Edvard Munch’s “Girls on the Bridge” sold for $54.5 million at Sotheby’s in New York on 14 November 2016, against an estimate of about $50 million. That made it the second most expensive Munch painting ever sold at auction, behind “The Scream” at $119.9 million. This page covers the 1902 painting, the sale, and Munch’s other record auction prices as of October 2026.
| Rank | Item | Price (USD) | Sale date | Sold at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “The Scream” (1895 pastel) | $119.9 million | May 2012 | Sotheby’s, New York |
| 2 | “Girls on the Bridge” (1902) | $54.5 million | November 2016 | Sotheby’s, New York |
| 3 | “Vampire” (painting) | $38.2 million | November 2008 | Sotheby’s, New York |
1. “The Scream”: $119.9 million
Munch made four versions of his best-known image, two in paint and two in pastel. The 1895 pastel, owned by the Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, was the only version not in a Norwegian museum. At Sotheby’s on 2 May 2012, bidding started at $40 million and ran for more than 12 minutes. The final offer, by phone, was $119,922,500 including the buyer’s premium.
How we valued it: the price with premium at Sotheby’s.
2. “Girls on the Bridge”: $54.5 million
Munch painted several versions of the subject, all showing a bridge at Åsgårdstrand, a bathing village on the Oslofjord where he spent summers. Twelve works carry the title “Young Girls on a Bridge,” ranging from 1886 to 1927. The 1901 version hangs in the National Gallery in Oslo, and a version from the Paris Salon des Indépendants of 1903 is in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. The 1902 version that sold in 2016 is the one that came up for sale.
The painting is bright and tense at once. The bridge is pink with red, yellow and blue stripes, the trees are blackish green with heavy outlines, and the girls huddle together in summer dresses. It looks like a summer scene that turns uneasy.
It had sold twice before at Sotheby’s: for about $7.7 million in the 1990s and for $30.8 million in 2008. Each time it set a record for the artist. In 2016 Sotheby’s guided it to about $50 million and the hammer came in above that, at $54.5 million with fees. One report puts the price at $54.2 million, so the exact figure differs by source. The buyer was reported to be a private collector and software entrepreneur.
How we valued it: the price with premium as reported by the auction house.
3. “Vampire”: $38.2 million
On 3 November 2008 Sotheby’s sold Munch’s painting “Vampire” for $38,162,000. It was a record for the artist at the time, until “The Scream” overtook it in 2012.
How we valued it: the price with premium at Sotheby’s.
Munch at auction since 2016
We found no Munch sale in 2025 or 2026 that approaches these three prices. Smaller works still appear: Artnet lists a Munch birch-trunk painting with a sale date of 14 October 2026, though we could not confirm its price. Because most major Munch works are in Norwegian museums, few top-level pictures reach the market, and when one does, it tends to beat its estimate.
What drives these prices
- One image, many versions. The Scream has four versions, and the only privately held one sold, which concentrated demand.
- Few on the market. Norwegian museums hold most major works.
- Repeat sellers. “Girls on the Bridge” gained value each time it changed hands, from about $7.7 million to $30.8 million to $54.5 million.
- Emotional appeal. The work reads as both cheerful and uneasy, which collectors respond to.
FAQ
How much did “Girls on the Bridge” sell for?
$54.5 million at Sotheby’s New York on 14 November 2016, above its estimate of about $50 million.
What is Munch’s most expensive painting?
“The Scream” (the 1895 pastel version), sold for $119.9 million in May 2012.
Where are the other versions of “Girls on the Bridge”?
The 1901 version is in the National Gallery in Oslo, and a version from 1903 is in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.
Where was “Girls on the Bridge” painted?
The bridge is in Åsgårdstrand, a bathing village on the Oslofjord in Norway.
Has “Girls on the Bridge” sold before?
Yes. It sold at Sotheby’s in the 1990s for about $7.7 million and in 2008 for $30.8 million.
Is the buyer of “Girls on the Bridge” known?
It was reported to be a private collector, and we do not name private buyers.
How we put this list together
We ranked Munch paintings and pastels by verified auction price, using results compiled in an internal valuation model. Prices include the buyer’s premium and are approximate.
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Last updated: October 2026.
