I really need you to explain to me what "tied up" means. If I buy a $100 million dollar piece of art, that $100m doesn't disappear into the ether, it goes to th

I really need you to explain to me what "tied up" means. If I buy a $100 million dollar piece of art, that $100m doesn't disappear into the ether, it goes to the person who sold me the piece, who can then spend that on whatever they want.