Dorothea Tanning (1910–2012)
What is Dorothea Tanning’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 182 auction results for Dorothea Tanning at 40 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $61,045 including buyer’s premium (middle half $7,969–$909,777, n=19). The auction record is $6,261,290 for Children's Games (2026, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Children's Games, 1942 | Oil paint | $6,261,290 | Christie's | Mar 2026 |
| 2 | Interior with Sudden Joy, 1951 | Oil paint | $3,222,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | Endgame, 1944 | Oil paint | $2,349,000 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 4 | Témoins du drame, 1947 | Oil on linen | $2,176,000 | Sotheby's | May 2026 |
| 5 | Le mal oublié, 1910 | Oil paint | $1,440,000 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 6 | Katchina and Her Soul, 1951 | Oil paint | $1,213,036 | Sotheby's | Sep 2025 |
| 7 | The Temptation of St. Anthony, 1945 | Oil paint | $1,152,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 8 | Mêlées nocturnes, 1958 | Oil paint | $623,360 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 9 | Daughters, 1983 | Oil paint | $606,518 | Sotheby's | Sep 2025 |
| 10 | A Mrs. Radcliffe Called Today, 1944 | Oil paint | $512,843 | Christie's | Feb 2014 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 34 | $128,018 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $6,684 |
| Other | 19 | $4,064 |
| Prints | 70 | $2,450 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $532,104 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 56 | $4,884 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 73 | $4,375 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 182 results from 40 houses · How we compute these figures
Dorothea Tanning is an American artist with 233 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $3,750. 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 Dorothea Tanning sold in 2026 for $61,044, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Dorothea Tanning works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Dorothea Tanning free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Dorothea Tanning record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Dorothea Tanning on OpeningBid →What is a Dorothea Tanning work worth?
Across 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dorothea Tanning work is $3,750.
The median Dorothea Tanning print sells for $1,203 across 85 lots.
The median Dorothea Tanning painting sells for $109,031 across 38 lots.
The median Dorothea Tanning work on paper sells for $6,278 across 32 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Dorothea Tanning prints typically sell for $537–$4,952 (the middle half of 43 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Dorothea Tanning prints typically sell for $304–$2,850 (the middle half of 36 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 | 108 | $1,203†‡ | $40,000 | 78.7% | 2026-07-05 |
| Paintings | 38 | $109,031†‡ | $6.3M | — | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 36 | $6,278†‡ | $207,496 | 88.9% | 2026-06-05 |
| Photography | 5 | $154† | $240† | 80% | 2006-11-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 22 | $442,433 | $6.3M | — | 2026-05-11 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Dorothea Tanning's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (108 lots) median $1,203 with 78.7% sell-through. Paintings (38 lots) median $109,031, record $6,261,290. A typical Dorothea Tanning painting sells for around 91× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 22 lots) the median is $442,433.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $304–$2,850†‡ | $850†‡ | $16,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 43 | $537–$4,952†‡ | $2,750†‡ | $40,000 |
† 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) | 21 | $32,500–$190,867† | $61,044† | $6.3M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $54,541–$427,177‡ | $209,412‡ | $3.2M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $280,820–$887,930 | $606,518 | $1.4M |
† 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) | 20 | $3,150–$7,833†‡ | $5,614†‡ | $28,104 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $6,153–$16,474†‡ | $11,250†‡ | $207,496 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $6.3M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $3.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $207,496 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $40,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $34,020 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $16,250 |
| Photography | 2006 | $240† |
| Photography | 2006 | $206† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Dorothea Tanning worth?
Across 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dorothea Tanning work is $3,750. The median Dorothea Tanning print sells for $1,203 across 85 lots. The median Dorothea Tanning painting sells for $109,031 across 38 lots. The median Dorothea Tanning work on paper sells for $6,278 across 32 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Dorothea Tanning prints typically sell for $537–$4,952 (the middle half of 43 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Dorothea Tanning prints typically sell for $304–$2,850 (the middle half of 36 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 Dorothea Tanning print?
Based on 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dorothea Tanning print is $1,203. 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 Dorothea Tanning's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dorothea Tanning print is $40,000.
What is the average price of a Dorothea Tanning painting?
Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dorothea Tanning painting is $109,031. 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 Dorothea Tanning's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dorothea Tanning painting is $6,261,290.
What is the average price of a Dorothea Tanning work on paper?
Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dorothea Tanning work on paper is $6,278. 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 Dorothea Tanning's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Dorothea Tanning work on paper is $207,496.
What is the average price of a medium Dorothea Tanning print?
Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Dorothea Tanning print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,750, 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 Dorothea Tanning print?
Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Dorothea Tanning print (small (under 50 cm)) is $850, 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 Dorothea Tanning's auction record?
Dorothea Tanning's auction record is $6,261,290, set in 2026.
See the full Dorothea Tanning record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Dorothea Tanning on OpeningBid →