Brassaï (1899–1984)
What is Brassaï’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 761 auction results for Brassaï at 37 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,273 including buyer’s premium (middle half $964–$4,836, n=80). The auction record is $73,114 for Transmutations (2018, Ader). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transmutations, 1934-1935 | 12 épreuves argentiques (1967) tirées par Claudine Sudre et contrecollées sur cartons | $73,114 | Ader | Nov 2018 |
| 2 | Couple d'amoureux dans un petit café, quartier Italie, 1899 | Cartes-de-visite | $58,600 | Christie's | Apr 2008 |
| 3 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection, 1932-51 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection | $51,486 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 4 | Graffiti (série VIII, La Magie), 1899 | Tirage argentique | $42,044 | Christie's | Nov 2005 |
| 5 | Couple at the Bal des Quatre-Saisons, rue de Lappe, 1950 | Negative number 'Pl.2' in ink, printer's notations in pencil, '81 rue du Faubourg St.-Jacques' studio, 'Agence Rapho' and 'U.S. Camera' stamps (on the verso) | $39,400 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 6 | Graffiti (série VII, La Mort), 1899 | Cachet 'rue du Faubourg-St. Jacques', numéroté 'A.1787' par Gilberte Brassaï, numéroté par des mains inconnues au crayon, cachet d'un éditeur Tchèque couvert à la gouache blanche (au verso) | $32,234 | Christie's | Nov 2005 |
| 7 | Le Chat Blanc de l'Epicerie, 1950 | Negative number 'An.207' in ink, printer's annotations in pencil, '81 rue du Faubourg St.-Jacques' studio, 'Agence Rapho' and 'U.S. Camera' stamps (on the verso) | $32,200 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 8 | Couple at the Bal des Quatre Saisons, Rue de Lappe, circa 1940 | Gelatin silver print, printed circa 1940 | $32,124 | Phillips | Nov 2013 |
| 9 | Le Roi soleil, 1899 | Cartridge brass | $31,227 | PIASA | Dec 2016 |
| 10 | LOVERS, PLACE D'ITALIE | Ferrotyped, signed and annotated 'page 77' and 'pp. 78' by the photographer in ink and with his copyright/credit/studio and 'Tirage de l'Auteur' stamps on the reverse, matted, framed, circa 1932, probably printed in the 1960s (Brassaï, p. 85; The Eye of Paris, frontispiece; Secret Paris of the Thirties, unpaginated; Pantheon, pl. 18) | $31,200 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 488 | $4,200 |
| Works on paper | 20 | $3,500 |
| Other | 40 | $3,185 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 12 | $7,595 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 495 | $4,195 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 761 results from 37 houses · How we compute these figures
Brassaï is a French artist with 992 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $3,148. 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 Brassaï sold in 2026 for $11,430, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Brassaï works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Brassaï free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Brassaï record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Brassaï on OpeningBid →What is a Brassaï work worth?
Across 760 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Brassaï work is $3,148.
The median Brassaï photograph sells for $3,048 across 700 lots.
The median Brassaï print sells for $7,583 across 12 lots.
The median Brassaï work on paper sells for $2,519 across 10 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Brassaï photographs typically sell for $1,875–$8,027 (the middle half of 527 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 | 12 | $7,583‡ | $73,114 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 2 | $24,177‡ | $35,459‡ | — | 2015-06-26 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $2,519†‡ | $11,666 | 90.9% | 2026-06-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 4 | $3,346 | $3,387 | 75% | 2024-03-04 |
| Photography | 813 | $3,048†‡ | $58,600 | 86.1% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 38 | $27,500‡ | $73,114 | — | 2026-04-17 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Brassaï's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (12 lots) median $7,583. Paintings (2 lots) median $24,177, record $35,459. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Brassaï painting sells for around 3.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 38 lots) the median is $27,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $3,110–$27,903 | $11,393 | $73,114 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $586–$3,750†‡ | $1,287†‡ | $11,666 |
† 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) | 527 | $1,875–$8,027†‡ | $4,000†‡ | $58,600 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $4,950–$10,745 | $6,300 | $17,481 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $73,114 |
| Photography | 2008 | $58,600 |
| Photography | 2025 | $51,486 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $39,400 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $35,459‡ |
| Paintings | 2015 | $12,894‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $11,666 |
| Works on Paper | 2002 | $4,700 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Brassaï worth?
Across 760 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Brassaï work is $3,148. The median Brassaï photograph sells for $3,048 across 700 lots. The median Brassaï print sells for $7,583 across 12 lots. The median Brassaï work on paper sells for $2,519 across 10 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Brassaï photographs typically sell for $1,875–$8,027 (the middle half of 527 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 Brassaï photograph?
Based on 700 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Brassaï photograph is $3,048. 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 Brassaï's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Brassaï photograph is $58,600.
What is the average price of a Brassaï print?
Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Brassaï print is $7,583. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Brassaï's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Brassaï print is $73,114.
What is the average price of a Brassaï work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Brassaï work on paper is $2,519. 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 Brassaï's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Brassaï work on paper is $11,666.
What is the average price of a small Brassaï photograph?
Based on 527 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Brassaï photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,000, 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 Brassaï photograph?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Brassaï photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,300, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Brassaï's auction record?
Brassaï's auction record is $73,114, set in 2018.
See the full Brassaï record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Brassaï on OpeningBid →