Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831–1915)
What is Hendrik Willem Mesdag’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 99 auction results for Hendrik Willem Mesdag at 13 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $28,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,397–$42,919, n=5). The auction record is $712,783 for bomschuiten at sea (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bomschuiten at sea | Oil on canvas | $712,783 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 2 | the return of the fishing fleet on Scheveningen beach | — | $543,714 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 3 | Un jour de Novembre, Scheveningue, 1880 | Oil paint | $358,598 | Christie's | Nov 2011 |
| 4 | Die Rückkehr der Fischer | Oil on panel | $191,625 | Ketterer Kunst | Apr 2010 |
| 5 | watching the fishing fleet sail out | — | $143,218 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 6 | unloading the catch | Oil on canvas | $130,387 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 7 | bringing in the catch | — | $114,654 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 8 | Die Rückkehr der Fischer, 1890 | Oil on panel | $112,730 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2021 |
| 9 | The Return of the Fleet, 1831 | Oil paint | $105,000 | Christie's | May 2001 |
| 10 | Return of the Fishing Fleet, 1831 | Oil paint | $102,000 | Christie's | Oct 2008 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 9 | $84,193 |
| Paintings | 31 | $48,895 |
| Works on paper | 11 | $15,275 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 29 | $46,904 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $5,930 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 99 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Hendrik Willem Mesdag is a Dutch artist with 125 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $32,962. 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 Hendrik Willem Mesdag sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $93,152 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
5 Hendrik Willem Mesdag works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Hendrik Willem Mesdag free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Hendrik Willem Mesdag record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Hendrik Willem Mesdag on OpeningBid →What is a Hendrik Willem Mesdag work worth?
Across 98 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hendrik Willem Mesdag work is $32,962.
The median Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting sells for $42,499 across 54 lots.
The median Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper sells for $8,734 across 25 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Hendrik Willem Mesdag paintings typically sell for $28,215–$69,343 (the middle half of 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 57 | $42,499†‡ | $358,598 | 94.7% | 2026-07-07 |
| Works on Paper | 31 | $8,734†‡ | $62,821 | 80.6% | 2025-10-27 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $146,788† | $712,783 | — | 2025-11-18 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $6,845–$20,853†‡ | $13,103†‡ | $41,238† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 33 | $28,215–$69,343† | $44,868† | $191,625 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $84,193–$208,188† | $150,358† | $358,598 |
† 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) | 10 | $1,312–$6,038† | $4,899† | $9,243† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $9,862–$24,489†‡ | $16,853†‡ | $62,821 |
† 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 | 2011 | $358,598 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $208,188† |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $62,821 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $53,747 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Hendrik Willem Mesdag worth?
Across 98 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hendrik Willem Mesdag work is $32,962. The median Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting sells for $42,499 across 54 lots. The median Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper sells for $8,734 across 25 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Hendrik Willem Mesdag paintings typically sell for $28,215–$69,343 (the middle half of 33 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 Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting?
Based on 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting is $42,499. 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 Hendrik Willem Mesdag's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting is $358,598.
What is the average price of a Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper?
Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper is $8,734. 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 Hendrik Willem Mesdag's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper is $62,821.
What is the average price of a medium Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Hendrik Willem Mesdag painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $44,868, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a medium Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper?
Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Hendrik Willem Mesdag work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $16,853, 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 Hendrik Willem Mesdag's auction record?
Hendrik Willem Mesdag's auction record is $712,783, set in 2007.
See the full Hendrik Willem Mesdag record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Hendrik Willem Mesdag on OpeningBid →