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

# Hans Bellmer (1902–1975)

## What is Hans Bellmer’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 912 auction results for Hans Bellmer at 92 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,984 including buyer’s premium (middle half $386–$12,073, n=88). The auction record is $942,000 for Les Bas rayés (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les Bas rayés, 1959 | Panel | $942,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | Mains et bras, 1950 | Gouache | $508,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | Mille filles, 1939 | Oil paint | $415,898 | Sotheby's | Sep 2025 |
| 4 | La Toupie, 1938-1968 | Bronze peint monté sur un socle en marbre noir | $313,153 | Artcurial | Jun 2014 |
| 5 | Les yeux; Sans titre, 1961-1962 | (i) black chalk heightened with white gouache on light grey paper | $193,403 | Christie's | Feb 2010 |
| 6 | Portrait de Marcel Duchamp, 1959 | Gouache, encre de Chine et graphite sur papier | $160,857 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 7 | La Toupie, 1938 | Painted bronze | $152,400 | Sotheby's | Nov 2023 |
| 8 | Céphalopode, 1939 | Pencil | $137,876 | Christie's | Feb 2002 |
| 9 | Desarticulation sur fond rayé, 1958 | Oil paint | $133,141 | Christie's | Feb 2016 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les jeux de la poupée (The Games of the Doll) | Paris: Les Éditions Premières, 1949. 15 hand-colored gelatin silver prints plus 2 trimmed, hand-colored gelatin silver prints, all mounted within the artist’s book | $110,500 | Phillips | Apr 2013 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 6 | $93,459 |
| Paintings | 8 | $81,524 |
| Works on paper | 136 | $10,222 |
| Photographs | 76 | $8,694 |
| Other | 152 | $3,698 |
| Prints | 174 | $438 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 366 | $4,423 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 116 | $576 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $461 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 912 results from 92 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Hans Bellmer is a German artist with 1,250 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $953. 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 Hans Bellmer sold in 2026 for $10,745, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**17 Hans Bellmer works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Hans Bellmer on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hans-bellmer?ref=kg:hans-bellmer) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Hans Bellmer work worth?

Across 887 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hans Bellmer work is $953.

The median Hans Bellmer print sells for $321 across 457 lots.

The median Hans Bellmer work on paper sells for $10,080 across 216 lots.

The median Hans Bellmer photograph sells for $6,075 across 101 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Hans Bellmer prints typically sell for $193–$660 (the middle half of 278 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Hans Bellmer work on papers typically sell for $4,279–$17,787 (the middle half of 175 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 | 585 | $321†‡ | $73,616 | 78.1% | 2026-10-27 |
| Paintings | 17 | $60,659‡ | $942,000 | — | 2025-11-20 |
| Works on Paper | 251 | $10,080†‡ | $193,403 | 86.1% | 2026-10-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 7 | $93,459‡ | $313,153 | 85.7% | 2026-04-17 |
| Photography | 118 | $6,075†‡ | $110,500 | 85.6% | 2026-06-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 45 | $77,345‡ | $942,000 | — | 2026-04-17 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Hans Bellmer's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (585 lots) median $321 with 78.1% sell-through. Paintings (17 lots) median $60,659, record $942,000. A typical Hans Bellmer painting sells for around 189× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 45 lots) the median is $77,345.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 278 | $193–$660†‡ | $317†‡ | $73,616 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 128 | $213–$550†‡ | $331†‡ | $5,809‡ |

† 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) | 7 | $8,271–$59,902 | $12,065 | $415,898 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $55,059–$133,141‡ | $96,788‡ | $942,000 |

‡ 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) | 175 | $4,279–$17,787†‡ | $8,750†‡ | $160,857 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 29 | $16,175–$30,759†‡ | $23,260†‡ | $193,403 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 74 | $3,785–$33,727†‡ | $7,810†‡ | $110,500 |

† 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 | $942,000 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $508,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $313,153 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $193,403 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $160,857 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $152,400 |
| Photography | 2013 | $110,500 |
| Photography | 2005 | $102,823 |

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 Hans Bellmer worth?

Across 887 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hans Bellmer work is $953. The median Hans Bellmer print sells for $321 across 457 lots. The median Hans Bellmer work on paper sells for $10,080 across 216 lots. The median Hans Bellmer photograph sells for $6,075 across 101 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Hans Bellmer prints typically sell for $193–$660 (the middle half of 278 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Hans Bellmer work on papers typically sell for $4,279–$17,787 (the middle half of 175 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 Hans Bellmer print?

Based on 457 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hans Bellmer print is $321. 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 Hans Bellmer's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hans Bellmer print is $73,616.

### What is the average price of a Hans Bellmer work on paper?

Based on 216 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hans Bellmer work on paper is $10,080. 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 Hans Bellmer's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hans Bellmer work on paper is $193,403.

### What is the average price of a Hans Bellmer photograph?

Based on 101 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hans Bellmer photograph is $6,075. 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 Hans Bellmer's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hans Bellmer photograph is $110,500.

### What is the average price of a small Hans Bellmer print?

Based on 278 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Hans Bellmer print (small (under 50 cm)) is $317, 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 Hans Bellmer work on paper?

Based on 175 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Hans Bellmer work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $8,750, 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 Hans Bellmer's auction record?

Hans Bellmer's auction record is $942,000, 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, “Hans Bellmer auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hans-bellmer (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.