Arnulf Rainer (1929–2025)
What is Arnulf Rainer’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,998 auction results for Arnulf Rainer at 54 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,161 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,564–$16,915, n=96). The auction record is $903,462 for Schwarze Übermalung auf Braun (2020, Ketterer Kunst). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schwarze Übermalung auf Braun, 1955 | Oil on canvas | $903,462 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2020 |
| 2 | Zentralgestaltung, 1951 | Oil on burlap | $446,175 | Ketterer Kunst | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Große Vertikalgestaltung, 1952 | Öl auf Jute auf Holzplatte | $395,536 | im Kinsky Auktionshaus | Apr 2012 |
| 4 | Brücke, 1951 | Oil on paper on canvas; framed | $331,131 | im Kinsky Auktionshaus | Jun 2018 |
| 5 | Kreuz, 1988 | Oil on panel | $318,823 | Ketterer Kunst | Jun 2025 |
| 6 | Orange Übermalung, 1960 | Oil on canvas | $313,665 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Jun 2023 |
| 7 | Schwarze Übermalung, 1958 | Oil on chipboard | $313,665 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Jun 2023 |
| 8 | Cross, 1987-88 | Oil on photography on wood; framed | $300,742 | im Kinsky Auktionshaus | Dec 2020 |
| 9 | Kreuz (Cross), 1987 | Oil on wood, in artist's frame | $267,171 | Sotheby's | Sep 2021 |
| 10 | Schwarze Übermalung, oil on canvas, 1953 | Oil on canvas | $243,817 | Dorotheum | Dec 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 80 | $69,698 |
| Works on paper | 67 | $18,751 |
| Photographs | 123 | $17,640 |
| Other | 214 | $9,832 |
| Prints | 341 | $3,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 29 | $130,720 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 318 | $19,124 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 389 | $4,724 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,998 results from 54 houses · How we compute these figures
Arnulf Rainer is an Austrian artist with 2,422 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $3,374. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Arnulf Rainer sold in 2026 for $5,239, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
27 Arnulf Rainer works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Arnulf Rainer free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Arnulf Rainer record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Arnulf Rainer on OpeningBid →What is a Arnulf Rainer work worth?
Across 1,889 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Arnulf Rainer work is $3,374.
The median Arnulf Rainer print sells for $2,119 across 375 lots.
The median Arnulf Rainer photograph sells for $12,782 across 157 lots.
The median Arnulf Rainer work on paper sells for $8,267 across 94 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Arnulf Rainer prints typically sell for $1,152–$3,935 (the middle half of 233 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Arnulf Rainer prints typically sell for $1,323–$7,471 (the middle half of 125 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 422 | $2,119†‡ | $139,444 | 88.9% | 2026-10-06 |
| Paintings | 78 | $57,141‡ | $903,462 | 91% | 2026-06-25 |
| Works on Paper | 124 | $8,267†‡ | $141,752 | 75.8% | 2026-09-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 7 | $9,138 | $22,553 | 85.7% | 2024-04-15 |
| Photography | 173 | $12,782†‡ | $300,742 | 90.8% | 2026-09-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 100 | $93,004‡ | $903,462 | — | 2026-06-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Arnulf Rainer's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (422 lots) median $2,119 with 88.9% sell-through. Paintings (78 lots) median $57,141, record $903,462. A typical Arnulf Rainer painting sells for around 27× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 100 lots) the median is $93,004.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 233 | $1,152–$3,935†‡ | $1,855†‡ | $89,187‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 125 | $1,323–$7,471†‡ | $2,707†‡ | $90,819 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $9,860–$28,349‡ | $16,443‡ | $139,444 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $7,813–$25,610‡ | $17,854‡ | $57,485 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 42 | $39,937–$105,705‡ | $63,303‡ | $446,175 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $147,104–$317,534 | $290,418 | $903,462 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 67 | $4,558–$15,544†‡ | $7,790†‡ | $75,175 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $5,825–$41,558‡ | $21,146‡ | $141,752 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $5,584–$10,300 | $7,977 | $22,553 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 54 | $3,502–$8,318†‡ | $5,493†‡ | $30,480 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 88 | $9,721–$26,910†‡ | $18,593†‡ | $82,560 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $52,279–$161,993 | $101,319 | $300,742 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $903,462 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $446,175 |
| Photography | 2020 | $300,742 |
| Photography | 2019 | $180,278 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $141,752 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $139,444 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $90,819 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $81,294 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Arnulf Rainer worth?
Across 1,889 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Arnulf Rainer work is $3,374. The median Arnulf Rainer print sells for $2,119 across 375 lots. The median Arnulf Rainer photograph sells for $12,782 across 157 lots. The median Arnulf Rainer work on paper sells for $8,267 across 94 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Arnulf Rainer prints typically sell for $1,152–$3,935 (the middle half of 233 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Arnulf Rainer prints typically sell for $1,323–$7,471 (the middle half of 125 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Arnulf Rainer print?
Based on 375 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Arnulf Rainer print is $2,119. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Arnulf Rainer's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Arnulf Rainer print is $139,444.
What is the average price of a Arnulf Rainer photograph?
Based on 157 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Arnulf Rainer photograph is $12,782. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Arnulf Rainer's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Arnulf Rainer photograph is $300,742.
What is the average price of a Arnulf Rainer work on paper?
Based on 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Arnulf Rainer work on paper is $8,267. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Arnulf Rainer's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Arnulf Rainer work on paper is $141,752.
What is the average price of a small Arnulf Rainer print?
Based on 233 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Arnulf Rainer print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,855, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a medium Arnulf Rainer print?
Based on 125 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Arnulf Rainer print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,707, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Arnulf Rainer's auction record?
Arnulf Rainer's auction record is $903,462, set in 2020.
See the full Arnulf Rainer record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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