> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/clarence-john-laughlin · updated 2026-11-02

# Clarence John Laughlin (1905–1985)

## What is Clarence John Laughlin’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 126 auction results for Clarence John Laughlin at 18 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,020 including buyer’s premium (middle half $633–$1,506, n=16). The auction record is $12,500 for Selected studies (2011, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selected studies, 1950 | Gelatin silver prints | $12,500 | Christie's | Dec 2011 |
| 2 | House of the Past, 1905 | Ferrotyped gelatin silver print | $6,300 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 3 | Tender Shadows, Waverly Plantation, West Feliciana Parish, 1905 | Silver gelatin print | $6,169 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2006 |
| 4 | The Language of Light, 1952 | Silver print | $5,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2021 |
| 5 | Light on the Cylinders, 1905 | Silver gelatin print | $4,993 | Neal Auction Company | Feb 2008 |
| 6 | The House of the Past, 1948 | Ink on mount recto | $4,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2024 |
| 7 | The Head in the Wall, 1945 | Ink | $3,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2007 |
| 8 | The Dynamics of Cylinders and Cube (Grain Elevators), 1905 | Gelatin silver print. 1946. Credit stamp and title in ink on the verso | $3,680 | Christie's | Oct 1998 |
| 9 | Dream of Dead Desire, 1954 | Ferrotyped silver print | $3,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2006 |
| 10 | A Vision of Dead Desire, 1979 | Cartes-de-visite | $3,500 | Phillips | Oct 2018 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 100 | $1,530 |
| Other | 9 | $1,000 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 102 | $1,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $976 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 126 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Clarence John Laughlin is an American artist with 194 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $1,456. 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 Clarence John Laughlin sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $2,200 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Clarence John Laughlin work worth?

Across 122 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Clarence John Laughlin work is $1,456.

The median Clarence John Laughlin photograph sells for $1,489 across 115 lots.

The median Clarence John Laughlin print sells for $1,195 across 3 lots.

The median Clarence John Laughlin work on paper sells for $1,553 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Clarence John Laughlin photographs typically sell for $975–$2,151 (the middle half of 105 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 | 3 | $1,195 | $2,032 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $1,553 | $1,553 | — | 2003-02-12 |
| Photography | 159 | $1,489†‡ | $12,500 | 72.3% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $5,500 | $12,500 | — | 2024-10-31 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 105 | $975–$2,151†‡ | $1,500†‡ | $12,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $926–$2,318 | $976 | $4,993 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2011 | $12,500 |
| Photography | 2007 | $6,300 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,032 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $1,553 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $1,195 |

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 Clarence John Laughlin worth?

Across 122 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Clarence John Laughlin work is $1,456. The median Clarence John Laughlin photograph sells for $1,489 across 115 lots. The median Clarence John Laughlin print sells for $1,195 across 3 lots. The median Clarence John Laughlin work on paper sells for $1,553 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Clarence John Laughlin photographs typically sell for $975–$2,151 (the middle half of 105 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 Clarence John Laughlin photograph?

Based on 115 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Clarence John Laughlin photograph is $1,489. 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 Clarence John Laughlin's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Clarence John Laughlin photograph is $12,500.

### What is the average price of a small Clarence John Laughlin photograph?

Based on 105 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Clarence John Laughlin photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,500, 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 Clarence John Laughlin's auction record?

Clarence John Laughlin's auction record is $12,500, set in 2011.

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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, “Clarence John Laughlin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/clarence-john-laughlin (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.