Sunday, January 18, 2009

The Winter Auction

To Sotheby’s for the eagerly awaited winter auction. There were some interesting works of art on display but most people had been drawn by the prospect of at least seeing if not actually buying a Beckham.

What sort of price would this in truth rather inferior Beckham command in today’s harsh economic climate? There is little doubt that Beckham lost his touch as an artist when he left the source of his inspiration in England and set off for sunnier climes, first in Spain and latterly in California and Milan (from where he is on loan).

Against all expectations, he went for a staggering 1 billion dollars, well above the reserve price. The experts were predictably delighted but at the same time aghast. How could anyone possibly want to spend so much money for a piece of trash like this? The answer is, I think, that for a lot of people with more money than sense, what counts is not the work of art itself but the NAME. If it’s a Beckham it’s good enough for them.

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