Van Gogh watercolour landscape auctioned for record $35.9 million

A Vincent van Gogh landscape has sold at an auction in New York for $35.9 million, a record for a watercolour by the Dutch impressionist.

The 1888 work, "Mueles de ble", was purchased for well above its pre-sale estimate of $20-30 million, auction house Christie's said. It was last exhibited in 1905.

"Mueles de ble" depicts a haystack in Arles, France, where van Gogh lived for more than a year in the 1880s. Unlike his best-known work, which were painted with oils, the painting was executed in watercolour, gouache, pen and ink on paper.

The work was initially owned after the artist killed himself at 37 by his brother, Theo van Gogh. After passing through several owners, it was seized by Hitler's forces during their occupation of France.

Following the war, the painting's whereabouts were unclear until the 1970s. It was in private hands until Christie's purchased the work through a settlement with the collector and heirs of the original owners.

Van Gogh is considered one of art's greatest and most influential painters, although he saw little commercial success during his lifetime.