> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hendrik-willem-mesdag · updated 2026-11-03

# Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831–1915)

## What is Hendrik Willem Mesdag’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 9 | $84,193 |
| Paintings | 35 | $44,868 |
| Works on paper | 15 | $14,679 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 33 | $44,634 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $5,930 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 99 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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 2026-11-03).

- [Hendrik Willem Mesdag on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hendrik-willem-mesdag?ref=kg:hendrik-willem-mesdag) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Hendrik Willem Mesdag auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hendrik-willem-mesdag (updated 2026-11-03).

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.