Munch's 'The Scream' sold for record $120 Million at NYC auction

One of the art world's most recognizable images, Edward Munch's "The Scream", sold on Wednesday for a record 119,922,500 U.S. dollars at its auction in New York City.  

The 1895 artwork, an expressionist symbol of human anxiety, was sold at Sotheby's, but neither the buyer's name nor any details about them was released.  

The previous record for an artwork sold at auction was 106.5 (m) million US dollars for Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust," sold by Christie's in 2010.   Munch's image of a man holding his head and screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky is one of four versions by the Norwegian expressionist painter.

The auctioned piece at Sotheby's is the only one left in private hands.  

A buzz swept through the room when the artwork was presented for auction as two guards stood watch on either side. Bidding started at 40 (m) million US dollars with seven buyers jumping into the competition early.  

The battle eventually boiled down to two phone bidders as the historic hammer price was finally achieved after more than 12 minutes.  

The record price includes the auction house's fee, or "buyer's premium."  

Taking charge of the historic auction was Sotheby's auctioneer Tobias Meyer, who said it was the "dream of an auctioneer" to be part of something so special.   Meyer also expressed the opinion that the painting was "worth every penny" of the record sale price.  

"It is one of the great, great icons of art worldwide," he added.

Sotheby's said the pastel-on-board version of "The Scream" is the most colorful and vibrant of the four and the only version whose frame was hand-painted by the artist to include his poem, detailing the work's inspiration.