National Heritage Institute: Frantíšek Kupka’s painting sold for record price at auction cannot leave country

The buyer of Frantíšek Kupka’s painting The Shape of Blue, which in April was sold at auction for a record 55.75 million Czech crowns, may not be able to take the piece out of the country. According to the National Heritage Institute, the painting is part of the national heritage and as such cannot be taken out of the Czech Republic. However, the owner of the gallery where the auction took place says he has a document from the same institution which confirms that the Kupka painting is not actually in the national heritage registry. The buyer of the artwork, which was created in 1013, does not reside in the Czech Republic.

Author: Sarah Borufka