Frida Kahlo is set to make waves in the art world once again this fall, as her 1940 self-portrait "El sueño (La cama)" heads to Sotheby's New York this November with an estimated value of $40-60 million. If the painting sells for its high estimate, it could become the most expensive artwork by a woman ever sold at auction, marking another historic milestone for the iconic Mexican artist.

The painting would surpass Kahlo's own current record of $34.9 million, set by "Diego y yo" in 2021, and could even exceed Georgia O'Keeffe's "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1," which sold for $44.4 million in 2014. This potential sale represents not just a financial milestone, but a testament to the enduring power and appeal of Kahlo's deeply personal artistic vision.

Kahlo created "El sueño" in 1940 during one of the most turbulent periods of her life, right in the midst of heartbreak and political chaos. Leon Trotsky had just been assassinated, and she had recently split from her husband, fellow artist Diego Rivera. The haunting work depicts the artist lying in bed, her body entangled in vines, while a skeleton wired with dynamite floats ominously above her, clutching dried flowers in a powerful meditation on mortality and suffering.

The painting hasn't been seen publicly in nearly three decades, making its upcoming auction appearance all the more significant for art enthusiasts and collectors. Before it hits the auction block in New York this November, the masterpiece will embark on a world tour, making stops in London, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Paris, allowing international audiences to witness this rare work firsthand.

Frida Kahlo wasn't merely seen as a painter during her lifetime, but rather as a force of nature who transformed personal anguish into universal art. Born in Mexico City in 1907, she began painting while recovering from a devastating bus accident that would affect her for the rest of her life. Through her art, she channeled her physical pain, passionate love affairs, and complex identity into unforgettable works that continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Her self-portraits became her signature, with works like "The Two Fridas" and "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" capturing the world's attention by mixing surrealism, Mexican folk art, and raw emotional honesty in ways no one had seen before. She painted herself repeatedly, sometimes as a saint or martyr, as in "The Broken Column" (1944), where her fractured, nail-studded body powerfully reflects the lifelong pain from her childhood accident.

Kahlo's life and art were inseparable, creating what seemed like a living painting where her experiences, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera, and her physical and emotional suffering all flowed seamlessly into her work and back again. By the time the Louvre acquired one of her works in 1939, making her the first 20th-century Mexican artist to be featured in the prestigious museum, Frida was already breaking boundaries that would inspire generations of artists to come.

"El sueño" won't be the only star attraction at Sotheby's this November, as the sale is packed with Surrealist masterpieces that create a dream lineup for collectors and enthusiasts of the movement. The auction will feature Dorothea Tanning's "Interior with Sudden Joy" (1951), estimated at $2-3 million, alongside two works by René Magritte: "La Représentation" (1962) and "La Révélation du présent" (1936), both estimated at $4-6 million and $2-3 million respectively. The sale will also include Salvador Dalí's "Symbiose de la tête aux coquillages" (1931), estimated at $2-3 million.

The timing couldn't be better for Surrealist art, which is experiencing unprecedented market success. According to recent reports from Sotheby's and ArtTactic, auction sales in the Surrealist category have jumped dramatically from $726 million to $800.7 million, while the genre's share of the global art market has nearly doubled from 9.3% to 16.8%. This surge reflects growing collector interest in works that blend the dreamlike with the profound, making the fantastical seriously profitable for both artists' estates and auction houses alike.