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Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938)

What is Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s work worth?

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,642 auction results for Ernst Ludwig Kirchner at 38 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $13,658 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,060–$33,694, n=142). The auction record is $38,096,000 for Berliner Strassenszene (recto); Bäume (verso) (2006, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Berliner Strassenszene (recto); Bäume (verso), 1913-1914Oil paint$38,096,000Christie'sNov 2006
2Dodo mit grossem Fächer, 1910Oil paint$12,920,000Christie'sMay 2007
3Pantomime Reimann: Die Rache der Tänzerin, 1912Oil paint$9,888,909Christie'sJun 2021
4GRUPPE BADENDER AM STRAND (GROUP OF BATHERS ON THE BEACH)Oil on canvas$9,521,944Sotheby'sFeb 2008
5Tanz im Varieté, 1911Oil on canvas$7,582,825Ketterer KunstJun 2024
6Erna am Meer, Fehmarn, 1913Oil paint$6,889,509Christie'sFeb 2016
7Das blaue Mädchen in der Sonne, 1910Oil on canvas$5,015,527Ketterer KunstDec 2022
8Zwei Mädchen mit Badewanne (Frau in flacher Wanne und Mädchen mit Fächer) (recto); Sitzender schwarzhaariger Mädchenakt (verso), 1909Oil paint$4,833,862Christie'sMar 2024
9Gut Staberhof III, 1913Oil paint$4,812,500Christie'sNov 2017
10VARIÉTÉPARADE (VARIETY SHOW)Oil on canvas$4,713,337Sotheby'sFeb 2010
Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
MediumSalesMedian
Paintings98$977,835
Works on paper503$19,041
Prints438$17,724
Other296$15,035
Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
SizeSalesMedian
Large (over 120 cm)31$1,254,945
Medium (50-120 cm)305$43,362
Small (under 50 cm)963$13,273

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,642 results from 38 houses · How we compute these figures

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is a German artist with 2,162 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $15,600. 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 Ludwig Kirchner sold in 2026 for $850,564, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

23 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Ernst Ludwig Kirchner free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.

See the full Ernst Ludwig Kirchner record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work worth?

Across 1,641 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work is $15,600.

The median Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on paper sells for $15,101 across 891 lots.

The median Ernst Ludwig Kirchner print sells for $14,074 across 530 lots.

The median Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painting sells for $901,746 across 104 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on papers typically sell for $5,490–$26,381 (the middle half of 714 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Ernst Ludwig Kirchner prints typically sell for $4,925–$24,654 (the middle half of 405 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

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions639$14,074†‡$1.4M82.9%2026-10-29
Paintings116$901,746‡$38.1M89.7%2026-06-19
Works on Paper1,050$15,101†‡$1.6M84.9%2026-09-26
Sculpture & Installation5$110,209$4.5M60%2022-12-09
Photography3——0%—
Masterpieces (top of market)189$476,010‡$38.1M—2026-06-19

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

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (639 lots) median $14,074 with 82.9% sell-through. Paintings (116 lots) median $901,746, record $38,096,000. A typical Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painting sells for around 64× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 189 lots) the median is $476,010.

Price by size

Prints & Editions

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)405$4,925–$24,654†‡$10,914†‡$1.4M
medium (50–120 cm)103$24,356–$78,067†‡$39,544†‡$976,433

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

Paintings

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)10$21,560–$145,071$70,273$454,840
medium (50–120 cm)73$528,900–$1.9M‡$975,000‡$9.9M
large (over 120 cm)20$709,655–$1.8M$1.2M$38.1M

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

Works on Paper

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)714$5,490–$26,381†‡$11,729†‡$637,647
medium (50–120 cm)172$19,248–$50,814†‡$30,628†‡$1.6M

† 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

MediumYearPrice
Paintings2006$38.1M
Paintings2007$12.9M
Sculpture & Installation2022$4.5M
Works on Paper2016$1.6M
Prints & Editions2012$1.4M
Works on Paper2010$1.4M
Prints & Editions2025$976,433
Sculpture & Installation2012$110,209

The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner worth?

Across 1,641 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work is $15,600. The median Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on paper sells for $15,101 across 891 lots. The median Ernst Ludwig Kirchner print sells for $14,074 across 530 lots. The median Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painting sells for $901,746 across 104 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on papers typically sell for $5,490–$26,381 (the middle half of 714 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Ernst Ludwig Kirchner prints typically sell for $4,925–$24,654 (the middle half of 405 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 Ludwig Kirchner work on paper?

Based on 891 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on paper is $15,101. 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 Ludwig Kirchner's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on paper is $1,590,490.

What is the average price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner print?

Based on 530 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner print is $14,074. 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 Ludwig Kirchner's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner print is $1,438,099.

What is the average price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painting?

Based on 104 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painting is $901,746. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

What is Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painting is $38,096,000.

What is the average price of a small Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on paper?

Based on 714 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernst Ludwig Kirchner work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $11,729, 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 Ludwig Kirchner print?

Based on 405 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernst Ludwig Kirchner print (small (under 50 cm)) is $10,914, 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 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's auction record?

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's auction record is $38,096,000, set in 2006.

See the full Ernst Ludwig Kirchner record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

View Ernst Ludwig Kirchner on OpeningBid →