> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/arnulf-rainer · updated 2026-11-02

# Arnulf Rainer (1929–2025)

## What is Arnulf Rainer’s work worth? {#value}

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.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | 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 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| 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 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Arnulf Rainer on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/arnulf-rainer?ref=kg:arnulf-rainer) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Arnulf Rainer auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/arnulf-rainer (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.