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

# Ben Shahn (1898–1969)

## What is Ben Shahn’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 663 auction results for Ben Shahn at 52 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $893 including buyer’s premium (middle half $465–$2,006, n=31). The auction record is $56,400 for Detail No. 2: Labyrinth (2001, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detail No. 2: Labyrinth, 1898 | Tempera | $56,400 | Christie's | May 2001 |
| 2 | Prisoners of War, 1942 | Gouache | $52,500 | Christie's | Dec 2010 |
| 3 | Men on a Bench, circa 1940 | Gouache on paper | $50,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2019 |
| 4 | Farewell to New York -- All That is Beautiful, 1965 | Watercolor | $47,800 | Christie's | Dec 2004 |
| 5 | Ohio Skyline, 1945 | Tempera | $42,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 6 | Goyescas, 1898 | Watercolor | $41,125 | Christie's | May 2001 |
| 7 | The Fall (Icarus) | — | $37,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seward Park, 1936 | Lithograph | $32,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2016 |
| 2 | Seward Park (New York), 1936 | Lithograph | $30,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2014 |
| 3 | Seward Park, 1936 | Lithograph | $26,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2002 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $3,000 |
| Photographs | 27 | $2,750 |
| Works on paper | 124 | $1,600 |
| Other | 169 | $1,500 |
| Prints | 207 | $975 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 127 | $1,800 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 209 | $1,188 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 663 results from 52 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ben Shahn is an American artist with 879 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $1,200. 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 Ben Shahn sold in 2026 for $1,716, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Ben Shahn work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Ben Shahn on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ben-shahn?ref=kg:ben-shahn) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Ben Shahn work worth?

Across 642 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ben Shahn work is $1,200.

The median Ben Shahn print sells for $1,000 across 397 lots.

The median Ben Shahn work on paper sells for $1,700 across 146 lots.

The median Ben Shahn photograph sells for $2,000 across 36 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Ben Shahn prints typically sell for $350–$1,886 (the middle half of 204 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Ben Shahn work on papers typically sell for $1,106–$3,201 (the middle half of 62 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 | 510 | $1,000†‡ | $32,500 | 77.8% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 19 | $3,000†‡ | $56,400 | — | 2025-06-11 |
| Works on Paper | 165 | $1,700†‡ | $52,500 | 88.5% | 2026-05-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $462 | $462 | — | 2025-06-11 |
| Photography | 50 | $2,000† | $15,000 | 72% | 2025-01-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 33 | $15,674†‡ | $56,400 | — | 2026-03-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Ben Shahn's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (510 lots) median $1,000 with 77.8% sell-through. Paintings (19 lots) median $3,000, record $56,400. A typical Ben Shahn painting sells for around 3.0× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 33 lots) the median is $15,674.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 37 | $400–$1,625†‡ | $652†‡ | $32,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 204 | $350–$1,886†‡ | $840†‡ | $8,000 |

† 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) | 9 | $1,100–$2,280† | $1,600† | $12,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $3,100–$10,995 | $6,325 | $42,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 62 | $1,106–$3,201†‡ | $1,830†‡ | $16,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 34 | $1,525–$5,348†‡ | $2,786†‡ | $52,500 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $1,800–$4,000 | $2,250 | $15,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $414–$889† | $602† | $950† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2001 | $56,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $52,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $50,000 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $42,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $32,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $30,000 |
| Photography | 2011 | $15,000 |
| Photography | 2019 | $8,750 |

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 Ben Shahn worth?

Across 642 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ben Shahn work is $1,200. The median Ben Shahn print sells for $1,000 across 397 lots. The median Ben Shahn work on paper sells for $1,700 across 146 lots. The median Ben Shahn photograph sells for $2,000 across 36 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ben Shahn prints typically sell for $350–$1,886 (the middle half of 204 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Ben Shahn work on papers typically sell for $1,106–$3,201 (the middle half of 62 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 Ben Shahn print?

Based on 397 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ben Shahn print is $1,000. 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 Ben Shahn's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ben Shahn print is $32,500.

### What is the average price of a Ben Shahn work on paper?

Based on 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ben Shahn work on paper is $1,700. 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 Ben Shahn's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ben Shahn work on paper is $52,500.

### What is the average price of a Ben Shahn photograph?

Based on 36 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ben Shahn photograph is $2,000. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ben Shahn's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ben Shahn photograph is $15,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Ben Shahn print?

Based on 204 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ben Shahn print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $840, 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 small Ben Shahn work on paper?

Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ben Shahn work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,830, 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 Ben Shahn's auction record?

Ben Shahn's auction record is $56,400, set in 2001.

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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, “Ben Shahn auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ben-shahn (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.