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

# Ernst Josephson (1851–1906)

## What is Ernst Josephson’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 106 auction results for Ernst Josephson at 10 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,307 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,778–$6,964, n=19). The auction record is $32,704 for Woman with a Cat on her Head (Kvinna med katt på Huvudet) (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woman with a Cat on her Head (Kvinna med katt på Huvudet), 1851 | Pencil | $32,704 | Christie's | Jul 2025 |
| 2 | Den Flygande Holändaren (The Flying Dutchman), 1851 | Oil paint | $21,420 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 3 | Axel Oxenstierna och Drottning Kristina | Oil/canvas | $19,000 | Bukowskis | May 1994 |
| 4 | Adam och eva | Ink, pen | $16,000 | Bukowskis | Nov 1993 |
| 5 | David och Saul, 1876 | Olja på pannå | $15,605 | Bukowskis | Jun 2025 |
| 6 | The Holy Anastasius | Oil on canvas | $11,122 | Christie's | Jun 2026 |
| 7 | JOSEPHSON, ERNST (1851-1906) | Ink, pen | $10,000 | Bukowskis | Nov 1993 |
| 8 | Kvinna med spegel | Papper | $8,973 | Bukowskis | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | Sagoberätterskan, 1874 | Pannå | $8,818 | Bukowskis | Jun 2015 |
| 10 | Loftkammare i Numedal, 1873 | Duk | $8,187 | Bukowskis | Jun 2022 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 14 | $6,571 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $2,997 |
| Other | 17 | $2,748 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $8,187 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $2,949 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 106 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ernst Josephson is a Swedish artist with 164 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,140. 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 Ernst Josephson sold in 2026 for $3,307, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ernst Josephson work worth?

Across 102 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernst Josephson work is $2,140.

The median Ernst Josephson work on paper sells for $1,753 across 69 lots.

The median Ernst Josephson painting sells for $4,367 across 23 lots.

The median Ernst Josephson print sells for $33 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Ernst Josephson work on papers typically sell for $837–$3,747 (the middle half of 47 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 | 4 | $33‡ | $37‡ | 50% | 2025-03-06 |
| Paintings | 38 | $4,367†‡ | $32,704 | 60.5% | 2026-09-17 |
| Works on Paper | 101 | $1,753†‡ | $145,000† | 68.3% | 2026-06-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $88,852†‡ | $145,000† | — | 2025-07-02 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Ernst Josephson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $33 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (38 lots) median $4,367, record $32,704. A typical Ernst Josephson painting sells for around 131× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $88,852.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $1,892–$17,059‡ | $2,944‡ | $32,704 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $3,201–$13,091†‡ | $8,502†‡ | $21,049† |

† 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) | 47 | $837–$3,747†‡ | $1,808†‡ | $145,000† |

† 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 | 1995 | $145,000† |
| Works on Paper | 1995 | $145,000† |
| Paintings | 2025 | $32,704 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $24,527‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $37‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $30‡ |

† 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 Ernst Josephson worth?

Across 102 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernst Josephson work is $2,140. The median Ernst Josephson work on paper sells for $1,753 across 69 lots. The median Ernst Josephson painting sells for $4,367 across 23 lots. The median Ernst Josephson print sells for $33 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Ernst Josephson work on papers typically sell for $837–$3,747 (the middle half of 47 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 Ernst Josephson work on paper?

Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernst Josephson work on paper is $1,753. 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 Ernst Josephson's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernst Josephson work on paper is $145,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $145,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Ernst Josephson painting?

Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernst Josephson painting is $4,367. 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 Ernst Josephson's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernst Josephson painting is $32,704.

### What is the average price of a small Ernst Josephson work on paper?

Based on 47 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernst Josephson work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,808, 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 Ernst Josephson painting?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernst Josephson painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,944, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ernst Josephson's auction record?

Ernst Josephson's auction record is $145,000, set in 1995. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $145,000 (buyer's premium not included).

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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, “Ernst Josephson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ernst-josephson (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.