Brad Pitt Hits Up Art Basel, Buys $1 Million Painting (PHOTOS)

Brad Pitt popped up in Switzerland on Tuesday at Art Basel.

An AP photographer snapped the actor checking out the work "end of knowledge" (24K gold on primed linen, 2008-2009) by US artist Jim Hodges through his aviator shades.

According to the WSJ, he then paid nearly $1M for a Neo Rauch rainbow-colored racetrack painting, "Etappe"

On Monday Pitt was in Washington DC having lunch with partner Angelina Jolie.

PHOTOS:

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Comments

[deezz nuttz]

you people aren't reading...­.he didn't BUY the gold painting..­.he bought "Etappe"..­.....so all of your...I am sure...edu­cated critiques of "end of knowledge" are even less important now...if thats possible..­....ijs...­.

[marymansour]

That's funny. You're right, it was 'Etappe' in rainbow colors.

[wanked]

this piece looks as if the artist placed blobs of gold paint on the canvas, folded it in half, pressed the 2 halves together, and opened it up to reveal his masterpiece. Kids in my art class do that sometimes.

[deezz nuttz]

you people aren't reading...­.he didn't BUY the gold painting..­.he bought "Etappe"..­.....so all of your...I am sure...edu­cated critiques of "end of knowledge" are even less important now...if thats possible..­....ijs...­.

[wanked]

Maybe he can put it behind the hideous table he bought last year for a total putrid effect....

[Goliadkin]

I don't know the artist's reputation, but presumably he has a good one with prices to match. Almost certainly BP sees the painting as an investment, not a $1 million throwaway. Historically, fine art has been a good investment, and this is no more crazy than buying Apple stock, which of course can go up or down, or any other instrument. Except that you get to enjoy the art while you own it.

[MINOTAURESEPT]

When you can buy art from any of the great masters and you buy this, I question your taste. I hate to say it, but it's one thing to be a movie star, but it's another thing to start looking like one. Shades indoors, okay, whatever. He's not a great actor anyway, most of his films are over hyped throwaways.

[deezz nuttz]

you people aren't reading...­.he didn't BUY the gold painting..­.he bought "Etappe"..­.....so all of your...I am sure...edu­cated critiques of "end of knowledge" are even less important now...if thats possible..­....ijs...­.

[Harey]

I think he had a big GOLD day.....su­n glasses, ring, watch, necklace and hey a million dollar trinket "painting"­...lucky art guy who sold that one.

[happycat]

Pitt and Jolie are starting to look and act like the poster children for gross, conspicuous consumption.

[learntofly]

It looks like he is impulse shopping.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Yeah Brad wears his jeans really good too.

That's an art. That's work about 150K.

David Beckham also does that.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I am astounded by some of the Brad detractors.

When he does something for charity, it is rejected as a publicity stunt. When he buys a piece of art, he is attacked for not donating that money to charity.

No matter what side Brad is on, he will lose in many of your eyes.

It's fun to watch you guys, though.

Thanks!

[onalimb]

I like it.

[mew-too]

Personally, I don't care where the Pitts spend their monies but this particular piece of art is too flashy and gauche for my tastes. I am merely expressing my opinion which can be dangerous on Jolie/Pitt/Madonna threads.

[happycat]

I don't care for this piece of art either. It looks like bad wallpaper to me. That is also just my opinion.

[mew-too]

Careful is the name of the game on these threads. lol.

[HelloooCanada]

it makes me hungry for vegetable samosas.

fact.

[claptrapa]

I do not care for this art piece but then Mr. Pitt did not seek my approval upon purchase. I would venture to say that the Pitt-Jolie home is an eclectic mix.

[andj]

that is part of the problem

[andjisboring]

booooooooooooring

[deezz nuttz]

you people aren't reading...­.he didn't BUY the gold painting..­.he bought "Etappe"..­.....so all of your...I am sure...edu­cated critiques of "end of knowledge" are even less important now...if thats possible..­....ijs...­.

[DonnaInMichigan]

So he hauls his cookies to Switzerland, on a private jet mind you, to buy a 1 million dollar painting..

Why?

Apparently there isn't any Art Gallery's there in New York?

Oh wait, those are done by AMERICAN artists. My bad.

[deluxebrand]

....Here we go again, bitter celebrity/people with money HATERS.

[pieya]

Well, this gold rorschach-esque image, "end of days", is by an American artist who is showing in Switzerland. There are good artists all over the world. New York is awesome, but it doesn't have it all. If you can afford to travel, then do it! Don't be a Sarah Palin - get your passport stamped, and see what else is out there. ^____^

[sarahwaters]

why didn't he give 1M to charity, what a waste of a 1M and he allowed it to be written about,
big shot!

[montecarlo408]

He does more than most to help others. He made the money. He can buy nice things if he wants. Stop hating.

[happycat]

What are you 12? Stop calling other people "haters" for disagreeing with you opinion.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Hater.

[montecarlo408]

This isn't the TiffanyHus­seinBanned I know. Something's up.

[lenzorizzo]

I wish he had bought my house instead. oh well. foreclosure's a bitch.

[WarriorLemming]

What would I do if I had 1M expendable cash on hand put the money toward saving the tigers or the mountian gorillas or maybe the polar bears? Nah, why should I if I've already put so much into Katrina ravaged New Orleans now I need a little stroking besides I don't want my father-in-law to think I'm a total liberal s.unking n.utb.ag.

[totalliberal]

Art is important as well.

[WarriorLemming]

Ohhh yeah.