Bob Dylan's abstract masterpiece fetches nearly $200K at auction

Rock and Roll icon Bob Dylan's painting was recently sold for almost $200,000 at a recent auction. 

An abstract painting Dylan created in the late 1960s sold for a staggering $196,156, according to a press release from RR Auction, which handled the sale, reported on by PEOPLE.

The artwork, dating back to Dylan's Woodstock period, coincided with his collaboration with The Band. This era's musical output resulted in the acclaimed albums ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1975) and ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete’ (2014).

Described by RR Auction as a “colorful and energetic abstract composition,” the painting features a central bull outline surrounded by intriguing shapes, patterns, and recognizable imagery. 

Musical notes, bowties, and animal figures interlace with the abstract elements.  A crowning detail is a red-outlined figure in a brimmed hat, reminiscent of Dylan's signature Woodstock style.

The story behind the artwork adds another layer of intrigue. According to the auction house, Dylan traded the painting to a Woodstock resident, Sandy LePanto, in exchange for an astrology chart. LePanto's family recently rediscovered the piece in her former husband's estate.

"Sandy was not only one of the most beautiful women in Woodstock at a time when there were many; she was a mystic, a channeler, a reader of stars, and maker of astrology charts for her friends,” the auction description reads, quoting Anne Margaret Daniel.

“Mythologies fascinated her, and she read broadly and deeply in the legends of many cultures… Dylan gave Sandy a painting in exchange for the charts and readings she’d done for him.”

This isn't Dylan's first foray into the visual arts. His artistic endeavours have graced album covers, including The Band's 1968 debut ‘Music from Big Pink’ and his own 1970 double album ‘Self-Portrait.’

"Dylan's artistry knows no bounds, evident in this vibrant piece that melds music, symbolism, and personal reflection,” said Bobby Livingston, RR Auction's executive vice president, in a statement. 

“With his 83rd birthday upon us, this sale highlights the enduring impact of his multifaceted talent.”

Dylan is currently on the road for the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival alongside music legends Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, and John Mellencamp.