New York's November auction week was a source of great excitement in the art market, with high-stakes bidding reminiscent of pre-pandemic times.

At Christie’s, a version of René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières was sold for an impressive $121 million, with two anonymous phone bidders fiercely competing in a silent salesroom.

The following evening at Sotheby’s, the auction featured Maurizio Cattelan’s controversial artwork, Comedian, which consists of a banana duct-taped to a wall. The event drew a crowded audience, with attendees eagerly documenting the bidding process.

Ultimately, a crypto tycoon acquired the piece for $6.2 million, further highlighting the intersection of contemporary art and modern investment trends.