> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/cocteau-jean-4 · updated 2026-11-02

# Cocteau Jean (1889–1963)

## What is Cocteau Jean’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 505 auction results for Cocteau Jean at 68 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $544 including buyer’s premium (middle half $317–$1,776, n=44). The auction record is $230,458 for La Vierge au grand cœur (2012, Artcurial). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Vierge au grand cœur, 1931 | Album of 21 original drawings | $230,458 | Artcurial | Feb 2012 |
| 2 | Le Grand Ecart, 1922 | Manuscrit autographe accompagné de 5 dessins originaux, 120 feuillets. In-4. Reliure de box ébène décorée, d'après un dessin abstrait de Francis Picabia | $137,010 | Christie's | May 2002 |
| 3 | Jeunesse Franco Allemande, 20th century | Partially glazed earthenware | $29,781 | Roseberys London | Feb 2024 |
| 4 | PROFIL AUX POINTS, 1957 | Pastel on paper | $29,464 | Sotheby's | Sep 2020 |
| 5 | Enfance d'Orphée, 1960 | Brown felt-tipped pen and coloured crayons on paper | $17,667 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |
| 6 | Trois faces - noir et blanc, 1958 | Slip-decorated white clay | $14,422 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | Tête d'homme aux yeux poisson, 1960 | Felt-tip pen on paper | $14,360 | Christie's | Feb 2015 |
| 8 | Trio I; II; III | Pen and ink on paper | $14,286 | Christie's | Feb 2014 |
| 9 | Printemps, 1958 | Glazed earthenware | $13,860 | Freeman's Hindman | Mar 2023 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orphée, 1944 | 40 original lithographies | $17,985 | Christie's | Dec 2001 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 26 | $2,460 |
| Works on paper | 69 | $2,091 |
| Other | 112 | $817 |
| Photographs | 12 | $460 |
| Prints | 56 | $437 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 141 | $2,312 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 41 | $336 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 505 results from 68 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Cocteau Jean is a French artist with 636 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $901. 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 Cocteau Jean is recorded as sold in 2026 for $1,452; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Cocteau Jean work worth?

Across 470 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cocteau Jean work is $901.

The median Cocteau Jean print sells for $408 across 158 lots.

The median Cocteau Jean work on paper sells for $2,091 across 118 lots.

The median Cocteau Jean photograph sells for $387 across 44 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Cocteau Jean work on papers typically sell for $1,418–$3,931 (the middle half of 77 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Cocteau Jean prints typically sell for $132–$554 (the middle half of 56 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 | 190 | $408†‡ | $17,985 | 83.2% | 2026-09-02 |
| Paintings | 8 | $897†‡ | $8,878‡ | 75% | 2025-03-18 |
| Works on Paper | 134 | $2,091†‡ | $230,458 | 88.1% | 2026-09-10 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $2,849‡ | $3,998 | 40% | 2021-04-15 |
| Photography | 46 | $387†‡ | $4,208 | 95.7% | 2026-08-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 26 | $13,471†‡ | $230,458 | — | 2024-11-28 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Cocteau Jean's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (190 lots) median $408 with 83.2% sell-through. Paintings (8 lots) median $897, record $8,878. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Cocteau Jean painting sells for around 2.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 26 lots) the median is $13,471.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $122–$1,289†‡ | $493†‡ | $17,985 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 56 | $132–$554†‡ | $234†‡ | $4,133 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 77 | $1,418–$3,931†‡ | $2,519†‡ | $17,667 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $1,530–$13,950†‡ | $6,417†‡ | $29,464 |

† 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) | 38 | $180–$956†‡ | $415†‡ | $4,208 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $230,458 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $29,464 |
| Prints & Editions | 2001 | $17,985 |
| Paintings | 2014 | $8,878‡ |
| Paintings | 2005 | $7,274† |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $5,800 |
| Photography | 2000 | $4,208 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $3,998 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 Cocteau Jean worth?

Across 470 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cocteau Jean work is $901. The median Cocteau Jean print sells for $408 across 158 lots. The median Cocteau Jean work on paper sells for $2,091 across 118 lots. The median Cocteau Jean photograph sells for $387 across 44 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Cocteau Jean work on papers typically sell for $1,418–$3,931 (the middle half of 77 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Cocteau Jean prints typically sell for $132–$554 (the middle half of 56 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 Cocteau Jean print?

Based on 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cocteau Jean print is $408. 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 Cocteau Jean's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Cocteau Jean print is $17,985.

### What is the average price of a Cocteau Jean work on paper?

Based on 118 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cocteau Jean work on paper is $2,091. 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 Cocteau Jean's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Cocteau Jean work on paper is $230,458.

### What is the average price of a Cocteau Jean photograph?

Based on 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cocteau Jean photograph is $387. 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 Cocteau Jean's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Cocteau Jean photograph is $4,208.

### What is the average price of a small Cocteau Jean work on paper?

Based on 77 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Cocteau Jean work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,519, 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 Cocteau Jean print?

Based on 56 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Cocteau Jean print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $234, 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 Cocteau Jean's auction record?

Cocteau Jean's auction record is $137,010, set in 2002.

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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, “Cocteau Jean auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/cocteau-jean-4 (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.