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

# Franz Gertsch (1930–2022)

## What is Franz Gertsch’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 438 auction results for Franz Gertsch at 18 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $19,983 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,067–$64,011, n=21). The auction record is $6,803,590 for Tabea (2025, Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tabea, 1981 | Acrylic on unprimed cotton | $6,803,590 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Sep 2025 |
| 2 | Selbstbildnis (Self-Portrait), 1980 | Acrylic paint | $3,377,122 | Christie's | Oct 2024 |
| 3 | Irène XI, 1982 | Watercolour | $822,080 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Jun 2023 |
| 4 | Tabea III, 1981 | Gouache auf Malkarton | $586,421 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Jun 2017 |
| 5 | Irène VIII, 1981 | Gouache auf Karton | $575,185 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Jun 2023 |
| 6 | Pestwurz I., 1993 | Tempera | $212,221 | Koller Auktionen | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | Bob Dylan - Joan Baez, 1967 | Acrylic dispersion | $209,227 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Sep 2020 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vera, 1994 | Woodcut on Kumohadamashi Japan paper by Heizaburo Iwano | $238,870 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Sep 2025 |
| 2 | Silvia, 2001 | Holzschnitt, gedruckt von | $223,365 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Jun 2019 |
| 3 | Schwarzwasser/Schwarzwasser I (Petrol), 1990 | Farbholzschnitt (Handabzug) auf Kumohadamashi-Japan von Iwano Heizaburo | $219,478 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Jun 2023 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 6 | $348,333 |
| Paintings | 5 | $212,221 |
| Other | 7 | $50,274 |
| Prints | 94 | $10,252 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 25 | $121,482 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 59 | $9,996 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $4,021 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 438 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Franz Gertsch is a Swiss artist with 518 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $1,731. 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 Franz Gertsch sold in 2026 for $19,983, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Franz Gertsch work worth?

Across 438 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Franz Gertsch work is $1,731.

The median Franz Gertsch print sells for $2,068 across 326 lots.

The median Franz Gertsch work on paper sells for $494 across 66 lots.

The median Franz Gertsch painting sells for $20,006 across 11 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Franz Gertsch prints typically sell for $604–$8,129 (the middle half of 184 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Franz Gertsch prints typically sell for $511–$3,463 (the middle half of 84 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 | 378 | $2,068†‡ | $238,870 | 86.2% | 2026-06-25 |
| Paintings | 11 | $20,006†‡ | $6.8M | — | 2025-09-12 |
| Works on Paper | 71 | $494†‡ | $822,080 | 93% | 2025-05-09 |
| Photography | 4 | $281†‡ | $1,621‡ | 75% | 2006-05-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 29 | $197,722‡ | $6.8M | — | 2025-12-07 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Franz Gertsch's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (378 lots) median $2,068 with 86.2% sell-through. Paintings (11 lots) median $20,006, record $6,803,590. A typical Franz Gertsch painting sells for around 9.7× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 29 lots) the median is $197,722.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 84 | $511–$3,463†‡ | $1,282†‡ | $21,191 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 184 | $604–$8,129†‡ | $2,199†‡ | $238,870 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 40 | $26,831–$145,197†‡ | $73,428†‡ | $223,365 |

† 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) | 39 | $383–$988† | $494† | $586,421 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $371–$5,020†‡ | $494†‡ | $822,080 |

† 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 | 2025 | $6.8M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $3.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $822,080 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $586,421 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $238,870 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $223,365 |
| Photography | 2004 | $1,621‡ |
| Photography | 2005 | $281† |

† 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 Franz Gertsch worth?

Across 438 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Franz Gertsch work is $1,731. The median Franz Gertsch print sells for $2,068 across 326 lots. The median Franz Gertsch work on paper sells for $494 across 66 lots. The median Franz Gertsch painting sells for $20,006 across 11 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Franz Gertsch prints typically sell for $604–$8,129 (the middle half of 184 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Franz Gertsch prints typically sell for $511–$3,463 (the middle half of 84 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 Franz Gertsch print?

Based on 326 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Franz Gertsch print is $2,068. 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 Franz Gertsch's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Franz Gertsch print is $238,870.

### What is the average price of a Franz Gertsch work on paper?

Based on 66 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Franz Gertsch work on paper is $494. 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 Franz Gertsch's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Franz Gertsch work on paper is $822,080.

### What is the average price of a Franz Gertsch painting?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Franz Gertsch painting is $20,006. 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 Franz Gertsch's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Franz Gertsch painting is $6,803,590.

### What is the average price of a medium Franz Gertsch print?

Based on 184 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Franz Gertsch print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,199, 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 Franz Gertsch print?

Based on 84 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Franz Gertsch print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,282, 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 Franz Gertsch's auction record?

Franz Gertsch's auction record is $6,803,590, set in 2025.

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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, “Franz Gertsch auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/franz-gertsch (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.