“Him” – Sculpture of Child-Like Hitler Sold For Record $17.2 Million

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A sculpture of kneeling child-like Hitler has sold for $17.2 million in an auction held by Christie’s, fetching more than was expected for the controversial piece. A bit creepy sculptor, dubbed “Him” fetched a record price for the artist, and a ball suspended in a water tank by Jeff Koons. Created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, the work was expected to sell between $10 million and $15 million, but it drew at least three telephone bidders who competed doggedly for the work. Cattelan’s work, which features real human hair, is from an edition of three depicting Hitler praying. The statue was part of the auction house’s “Bound to Fail” – a 39-lot sale of post-war and contemporary art that Christie’s said challenges “traditional notions of commercial success.”