> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/henri-cartier-bresson · updated 2026-11-02

# Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004)

Henri Cartier-Bresson is a French artist with 604 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,660. 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 Henri Cartier-Bresson is recorded as sold in 2026 for $3,532; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Henri Cartier-Bresson work worth?

Across 490 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Henri Cartier-Bresson work is $2,660.

The median Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph sells for $4,084 across 438 lots.

The median Henri Cartier-Bresson print sells for $357 across 15 lots.

The median Henri Cartier-Bresson work on paper sells for $355 across 4 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Henri Cartier-Bresson photographs typically sell for $2,173–$12,047 (the middle half of 324 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 | 19 | $357†‡ | $2,880 | 78.9% | 2026-04-23 |
| Works on Paper | 4 | $355 | $431 | — | 2006-11-07 |
| Photography | 494 | $4,084†‡ | $523,355 | 88.7% | 2026-08-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 25 | $30,729 | $523,355 | — | 2019-10-03 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 324 | $2,173–$12,047†‡ | $6,161†‡ | $523,355 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $4,325–$32,891 | $24,126 | $56,382 |

† 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 | 2008 | $523,355 |
| Photography | 2012 | $64,437 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $2,880 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $2,880 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $431 |
| Works on Paper | 1995 | $402 |

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 Henri Cartier-Bresson worth?

Across 490 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Henri Cartier-Bresson work is $2,660. The median Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph sells for $4,084 across 438 lots. The median Henri Cartier-Bresson print sells for $357 across 15 lots. The median Henri Cartier-Bresson work on paper sells for $355 across 4 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Henri Cartier-Bresson photographs typically sell for $2,173–$12,047 (the middle half of 324 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 Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph?

Based on 438 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph is $4,084. 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 Henri Cartier-Bresson's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph is $523,355.

### What is the average price of a Henri Cartier-Bresson print?

Based on 15 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Henri Cartier-Bresson print is $357. 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 Henri Cartier-Bresson's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Henri Cartier-Bresson print is $2,880.

### What is the average price of a small Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph?

Based on 324 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Henri Cartier-Bresson photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,161, 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 Henri Cartier-Bresson's auction record?

Henri Cartier-Bresson's auction record is $523,355, set in 2008.

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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, “Henri Cartier-Bresson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/henri-cartier-bresson (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.