Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch¹'s The Scream has become the most expensive art work sold at auction² as it went for $119.9m.

挪威表现派艺术家爱德华·蒙克的作品《呐喊》以1.199亿美元价格被拍卖，成为史上最贵艺术品。

The 1895 pastel（粉笔画） was bought by an anonymous³ buyer at Sotheby's in New York. Bidding lasted just 12 minutes.

The work is one of four in a series by the Norwegian expressionist artist and was the only one still owned privately⁴.

Proceeds of the sale are to go towards founding a new museum, hotel and art centre in Norway.

Seven bidders⁵ were competing for the work that had a starting price of $40m. The crowd applauded after the sale on Wednesday.

The sale price includes the buyer's premium⁶（保险费，奖金） .

The previous record for an artwork sold at auction was for Picasso's Nude⁷, Green Leaves, and Bust⁸, which sold for $106.5m in 2010.

'Trembling with anxiety'

The other three versions of The Scream are all owned by Norwegian museums. But Sotheby's say the example they handled is the most colourful.

It is also the only one to include a poem by Munch on the frame, which talks of his inspiration behind the series of works.

It reads: "I was walking along a path with two friends - the sun was setting - suddenly the sky turned blood red - I paused, feeling exhausted⁹, and leaned on the fence - there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city.

"My friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety - and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature."

The piece was sold by businessman Petter Olsen, whose father was friendly with the Norwegian artist.

Earlier this year, Olsen spoke¹⁰ of his decision to sell The Scream.

"I have lived with this work all my life, and its power and energy have only increased with time," he said.

"Now, however, I feel the moment has come to offer the rest of the world a chance to own and appreciate this remarkable¹¹ work."

The Scream has become one of the famous works of art in popular culture.