Erwin Blumenfeld (1897–1969)
What is Erwin Blumenfeld’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 101 auction results for Erwin Blumenfeld at 23 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,295 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,032–$3,761, n=13). The auction record is $136,429 for Manina, Paris (2014, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manina, Paris, 1949 | Solarised gelatin silver print, printed 1949-1951 | $136,429 | Phillips | May 2014 |
| 2 | Dictator, Paris, 1937, 1940 | Cartes-de-visite | $111,750 | Christie's | Apr 2013 |
| 3 | Paris, 1938, 1941-1949 | Pink-toned gelatin silver print | $60,000 | Christie's | Oct 2013 |
| 4 | Hat and Jewelry, 1897 | Initialed in pencil, authenticated by Marina Schinz in ink and Estate credit stamp (on the verso) | $56,250 | Christie's | Apr 2011 |
| 5 | New York, 1897 | Cartes-de-visite | $50,000 | Christie's | Oct 2013 |
| 6 | Shadow Profile, New York, 1944, 1897 | Cartes-de-visite | $40,000 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 7 | Bullfighter's Sweetheart, 1942-1943 | Vintage silver print, dry-mounted to card | $38,445 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 8 | Color, 1984 | Hamburg: PPS. Galerie F.C. Gundlach, 1984. Ten dye transfer prints | $36,139 | Phillips | Nov 2013 |
| 9 | Portrait à travers en drap noir, 1897 | Cartes-de-visite | $35,000 | Christie's | Oct 2015 |
| 10 | 'Color', 1984 | — | $33,320 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 8 | $11,873 |
| Photographs | 77 | $10,682 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 79 | $12,332 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 101 results from 23 houses · How we compute these figures
Erwin Blumenfeld is an American artist with 166 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $10,000. 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 Erwin Blumenfeld sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Erwin Blumenfeld record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Erwin Blumenfeld on OpeningBid →What is a Erwin Blumenfeld work worth?
Across 101 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Erwin Blumenfeld work is $10,000.
The median Erwin Blumenfeld photograph sells for $10,485 across 82 lots.
The median Erwin Blumenfeld work on paper sells for $13,860 across 3 lots.
The median Erwin Blumenfeld print sells for $3,761 across 7 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Erwin Blumenfeld photographs typically sell for $3,202–$21,562 (the middle half of 76 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 | 9 | $3,761 | $38,445 | 77.8% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 1 | $20,000 | $20,000 | — | 2019-04-02 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $13,860 | $18,750 | 30% | 2020-12-04 |
| Photography | 110 | $10,485†‡ | $136,429 | 74.5% | 2026-05-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $58,800 | $136,429 | — | 2014-05-08 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Erwin Blumenfeld's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (9 lots) median $3,761 with 77.8% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $20,000, record $20,000. A typical Erwin Blumenfeld painting sells for around 5.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $58,800.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $3,566–$5,133 | $4,341 | $38,445 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $3,202–$21,562†‡ | $11,332†‡ | $136,429 |
† 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 | 2014 | $136,429 |
| Photography | 2013 | $111,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $38,445 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $20,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $18,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $13,860 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $5,133 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Erwin Blumenfeld worth?
Across 101 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Erwin Blumenfeld work is $10,000. The median Erwin Blumenfeld photograph sells for $10,485 across 82 lots. The median Erwin Blumenfeld work on paper sells for $13,860 across 3 lots. The median Erwin Blumenfeld print sells for $3,761 across 7 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Erwin Blumenfeld photographs typically sell for $3,202–$21,562 (the middle half of 76 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 Erwin Blumenfeld photograph?
Based on 82 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Erwin Blumenfeld photograph is $10,485. 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 Erwin Blumenfeld's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Erwin Blumenfeld photograph is $136,429.
What is the average price of a small Erwin Blumenfeld photograph?
Based on 76 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Erwin Blumenfeld photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $11,332, 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 Erwin Blumenfeld's auction record?
Erwin Blumenfeld's auction record is $136,429, set in 2014.
See the full Erwin Blumenfeld record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Erwin Blumenfeld on OpeningBid →