William Weegee ( 1935 - ) is an American painter. William Weegee s works have been put up for auction numerous times, with realized prices surpassing estimated prices, varying from 305 USD for All American, Big Stick, and Whose Gold Standard in 2010 to 2800 USD for The Flower Peddler. Near the old Metropolitan Opera House in 2012 , based on the size and medium of the artwork.