“Kevin likes potatoes because they, like people, are all different yet immediately identifiable as being essentially of the same species,” his studio told PetaPixel. “He has photographed many potatoes. This one is one of his favourites.”

The photo, titled “Potato #345 (2010),” was hanging in his Paris studio when one of his patrons saw it.

The 2016 buyer saw the picture and was told the price was non-negotiable at just over $1 million. He agreed to buy it.