Is any painting really worth $179m?

Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) set a new world record last week for the most expensive painting sold at auction It must have been something to be in the room at the Rockerfeller Center last Monday evening. As bidding on Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) reached $151m, Christie’s global president Jussi Pylkkänen – auctioneer for the night – said: “We’re in new territory.” As the final bids rose in $500,000 increments, he spread his arms wide, as if