ICONIC painting The Scream became the most expensive artwork ever to be sold at auction early today, fetching £74million in New York.

by AP NEW YORK (AP) — One of the art world's most recognizable images — Edvard Munch's "The Scream" — sold Wednesday for a record $119922500 at auction in New York City. The 1895 artwork — a modern symbol of human anxiety — was sold at Sotheby's.

Edvard Munch's "The Scream" is auctioned at Sotheby's Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in New York. The image is one of four versions created by the Norwegian expressionist painter. Three are in Norwegian museums. The one at the Sotheby's auction is the only

AP Edvard Munch's "The Scream" is auctioned at Sotheby's Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in New York. The image is one of four versions created by the Norwegian expressionist painter. Three are in Norwegian museums and the one at the Sotheby's auction is the

It took 12 nail-biting minutes and five eager bidders for Edvard Munch's famed 1895 pastel of “The Scream” to sell for $120 million, becoming the world's most expensive work of art ever to sell at auction. Bidders could be