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

# Bernard Perlin (1918–2014)

## What is Bernard Perlin’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 27 auction results for Bernard Perlin at 8 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,200 including buyer’s premium (middle half $486–$2,286, n=10). The auction record is $22,860 for The Colosseum (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Colosseum, 1954 | Tempera on Masonite | $22,860 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 2 | Colosseum, 1954 | Tempera on Masonite | $19,200 | Sotheby's | Oct 2026 |
| 3 | George Platt Lynes, 1955 | Wove paper | $5,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2024 |
| 4 | Shepherd Boy (Aldo Brancacci), 1953 | Wove paper | $5,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2020 |
| 5 | Onions and Potatoes | Oil on canvas | $4,224 | Capsule Gallery Auction | May 2024 |
| 6 | Union Square Pickup, 1942 | Silverpoint on card | $3,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Aug 2022 |
| 7 | Untitled, 1942 | Pencil on Strathmore paper | $3,302 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2026 |
| 8 | WWII Airmen Seated with Woman Counting Money, 1945 | Gouache | $2,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2006 |
| 9 | Bernard Perlin. Circa 1950., 1950 | Pencil | $2,540 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2026 |
| 10 | Portrait of a Man, 1950 | Graphite | $1,524 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Aug 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 15 | $720 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $720 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $360 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 27 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Bernard Perlin is an American artist with 34 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $600. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Bernard Perlin sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Bernard Perlin work worth?

Across 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bernard Perlin work is $600.

The median Bernard Perlin work on paper sells for $1,122 across 12 lots.

The median Bernard Perlin painting sells for $4,224 across 5 lots.

The median Bernard Perlin print sells for $292 across 5 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 | 5 | $292‡ | $360 | — | 2026-05-29 |
| Paintings | 7 | $4,224 | $22,860 | 71.4% | 2026-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 13 | $1,122 | $5,250 | 92.3% | 2026-02-05 |
| Photography | 1 | $2,540 | $2,540 | — | 2026-04-30 |

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

Bernard Perlin's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $292. Paintings (7 lots) median $4,224, record $22,860. A typical Bernard Perlin painting sells for around 14× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $233–$360‡ | $292‡ | $360 |

‡ 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) | 10 | $437–$3,512 | $660 | $5,250 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $22,860 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $19,200 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $5,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $5,000 |
| Photography | 2026 | $2,540 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $360 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $360 |

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 Bernard Perlin worth?

Across 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bernard Perlin work is $600. The median Bernard Perlin work on paper sells for $1,122 across 12 lots. The median Bernard Perlin painting sells for $4,224 across 5 lots. The median Bernard Perlin print sells for $292 across 5 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a Bernard Perlin work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bernard Perlin work on paper is $1,122.

### What is Bernard Perlin's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bernard Perlin work on paper is $5,250.

### What is the average price of a small Bernard Perlin work on paper?

Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Bernard Perlin work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $660, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Bernard Perlin's auction record?

Bernard Perlin's auction record is $22,860, set in 2023.

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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, “Bernard Perlin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bernard-perlin (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.