René Magritte’s iconic painting, ‘Empire of Lights,’ was sold for $121 million at Christie’s in New York on November 19, 2024, setting a record for the surrealist artist. The piece, which inspired director William Friedkin for ‘The Exorcist,’ was part of the late Mica Ertegun’s collection. This sale occurred amidst a downturn in the art market, highlighting a contrast to the record highs seen in previous years.