Christie's auction of 'Les femmes d'Alger' by Pablo Picasso (7 images)

A painting by Pablo Picasso entitled "Les femmes d'Alger is on display after it is auctioned at Christie's in New York City on May 11, 2015. The Picasso sold for a record $179,365,000 (including Christie's commission of just over 12%). Previously the most expensive art work ever sold at auction is Francis Bacon's "Three Studies of Lucian Freud," which went for $142 million in 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Christie's Auctioneer Jussi Pylkkanen concludes an auction of a painting by Pablo Picasso entitled "Les femmes d'Alger at Christie's in New York City on May 11, 2015. The Picasso sold for a record $179,365,000 (including Christie's commission of just over 12%). Previously the most expensive art work ever sold at auction is Francis Bacon's "Three Studies of Lucian Freud," which went for $142 million in 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

A painting by Pablo Picasso entitled "Les femmes d'Alger is on display after it is auctioned at Christie's in New York City on May 11, 2015. The Picasso sold for a record $179,365,000 (including Christie's commission of just over 12%). Previously the most expensive art work ever sold at auction is Francis Bacon's "Three Studies of Lucian Freud," which went for $142 million in 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Christie's Auctioneer Jussi Pylkkanen concludes an auction of a painting by Pablo Picasso entitled "Les femmes d'Alger at Christie's in New York City on May 11, 2015. The Picasso sold for a record $179,365,000 (including Christie's commission of just over 12%). Previously the most expensive art work ever sold at auction is Francis Bacon's "Three Studies of Lucian Freud," which went for $142 million in 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI