August Sander (1876–1964)
What is August Sander’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 401 auction results for August Sander at 26 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,137 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,159–$5,418, n=33). The auction record is $493,000 for 'werkstudenten' (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'werkstudenten' | — | $493,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 2 | Three young farmers on their way to a dance, Westerland, 1914, 1876 | Cartes-de-visite | $163,440 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 3 | Self-portrait, 1925 | — | $100,374 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 4 | Art Dealer, Cologne, 1925 | Cartes-de-visite | $100,000 | Christie's | Apr 2017 |
| 5 | Antlitz der Zeit, 1910-29 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection | $51,486 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 6 | Selbstbildnis (Self portrait), Cologne | Cartes-de-visite | $48,185 | Phillips | Nov 2013 |
| 7 | Bricklayer, 1929 | Cartes-de-visite | $37,500 | Christie's | Apr 2018 |
| 8 | Professor Dr. Schleyer, Head Physician, 1876 | In German in ink by Gunther Sander on the reverse of the mount | $35,250 | Christie's | Apr 2000 |
| 9 | D. H. Sarnetzki, Schriftsteller, Köln, 1920s | Vintage silver print, mounted in original card mount. The photographer's studio blindstamp at the lower left image. Signed in pencil by the photographer and titled by Gunther Sander on the mount. The reverse of mount titled in an unknown hand in ink and with a studio label upper right. Printed 1930s | $30,836 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The painter Heinrich Hoerle, 1928 | Cartes-de-visite | $66,787 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | May 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 13 | $3,800 |
| Photographs | 187 | $3,750 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 187 | $3,600 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 401 results from 26 houses · How we compute these figures
August Sander is a German artist with 622 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $2,191. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by August Sander sold in 2026 for $6,096, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full August Sander record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View August Sander on OpeningBid →What is a August Sander work worth?
Across 400 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a August Sander work is $2,191.
The median August Sander photograph sells for $2,212 across 375 lots.
The median August Sander print sells for $3,630 across 4 lots.
The median August Sander work on paper sells for $21,651 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) August Sander photographs typically sell for $1,187–$5,248 (the middle half of 353 sold lots).
Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 7 | $3,630 | $6,096 | 57.1% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 1 | $422 | $422 | — | 2010-10-27 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $21,651 | $26,400 | — | 2018-11-30 |
| Photography | 546 | $2,212‡ | $163,440 | 68.7% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $34,804‡ | $493,000 | — | 2025-11-19 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
August Sander's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $3,630 with 57.1% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $422, record $422. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 20 lots) the median is $34,804.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 353 | $1,187–$5,248‡ | $2,160‡ | $163,440 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $3,247–$16,380‡ | $16,250‡ | $20,000 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2015 | $163,440 |
| Photography | 2017 | $100,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $26,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $16,902 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $6,096 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $3,810 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $422 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a August Sander worth?
Across 400 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a August Sander work is $2,191. The median August Sander photograph sells for $2,212 across 375 lots. The median August Sander print sells for $3,630 across 4 lots. The median August Sander work on paper sells for $21,651 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) August Sander photographs typically sell for $1,187–$5,248 (the middle half of 353 sold lots). Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a August Sander photograph?
Based on 375 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a August Sander photograph is $2,212. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is August Sander's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a August Sander photograph is $163,440.
What is the average price of a small August Sander photograph?
Based on 353 sold lots, the median auction price of a small August Sander photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is August Sander's auction record?
August Sander's auction record is $163,440, set in 2015.
See the full August Sander record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View August Sander on OpeningBid →