It’s a hoary quote from Oscar Wilde–“The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing”–but there are times when it is the only trenchant comment to be made. This posting from a private equity trade journal captures Wilde’s idea of cynicism but in the most naive way.

Henry Kravis, co-founder of US buyout group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, has made a 3.15% annual return on his painting by French impressionist Edgar Degas that sold on Monday night for $37m (€28m).