Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Sale – May 7, 2008

Fernand Léger, "Étude Pour 'La Femme en Bleu'" (1912–3)
Price realized: $39,241,000

The star lot in Sotheby's 2008 Impressionist and Modern Sale belonged to Fernand Léger's "Étude Pour 'La Femme en Bleu,'" as the Cubist masterpiece sold for $39,241,000 (including buyer's premium). The work, which manifests Léger's transformation from gestural paintings to full abstraction, not only became the artist's highest-selling lot at auction, but in the process smashed the previous record, set when "La Femme en Rouge et Vert" sold for $22,407,500 in 2003 at Christie's New York.

Courtesy Sotheby's