Irving Penn (1917–2009)
What is Irving Penn’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,608 auction results for Irving Penn at 45 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $27,593 including buyer’s premium (middle half $13,168–$61,920, n=218). The auction record is $629,062 for Harlequin Dress (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) (2006, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ginkgo Leaves, 1619 | Dye transfer print, printed 1992 | $567,600 | Phillips | Oct 2025 |
| 2 | Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), 1983 | Tirage platinum-palladium monté sur aluminium, tiré en 1983 | $492,765 | Christie's | Nov 2011 |
| 3 | Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Marrakech, 1951, 1983 | Platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1983 | $459,750 | Christie's | Apr 2013 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlequin Dress (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), 1979 | Platinum-palladium print | $629,062 | Christie's | Apr 2006 |
| 2 | Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Marrakech, 1983 | Platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1983 | $539,548 | Christie's | Oct 2005 |
| 3 | Black and White Vogue Cover, 1968 | Platinum-palladium print | $489,907 | Christie's | Oct 2006 |
| 4 | Black and White Vogue Cover, 1976 | Platinum | $481,000 | Christie's | Apr 2008 |
| 5 | Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Marrakech, 1951, 1983 | Platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1983 | $446,500 | Christie's | Apr 2010 |
| 6 | Black and White 'Vogue' Cover, 1968 | Platinum | $434,500 | Christie's | Apr 2012 |
| 7 | Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Marrakech, 1951, 1983 | Platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1983 | $396,000 | Christie's | Apr 2007 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 1,265 | $26,113 |
| Works on paper | 17 | $20,938 |
| Other | 142 | $15,542 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 436 | $37,500 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $34,104 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 847 | $22,500 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,608 results from 45 houses · How we compute these figures
Irving Penn is an American artist with 1,948 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $25,400. 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 Irving Penn sold in 2026 for $40,694, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Irving Penn works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Irving Penn free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Irving Penn record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Irving Penn on OpeningBid →What is a Irving Penn work worth?
Across 1,604 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Irving Penn work is $25,400.
The median Irving Penn photograph sells for $23,555 across 1,123 lots.
The median Irving Penn sculpture sells for $35,000 across 182 lots.
The median Irving Penn print sells for $39,568 across 152 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Irving Penn photographs typically sell for $8,925–$43,750 (the middle half of 705 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Irving Penn photographs typically sell for $20,864–$90,457 (the middle half of 283 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 | 171 | $39,568†‡ | $345,139 | 88.9% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 3 | $141,900 | $144,000 | — | 2025-10-08 |
| Works on Paper | 31 | $39,408 | $214,305 | 96.8% | 2023-10-05 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 184 | $35,000 | $492,765 | — | 2025-10-24 |
| Photography | 1,298 | $23,555†‡ | $1M | 86.5% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 182 | $159,250 | $1M | — | 2026-10-08 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Irving Penn's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (171 lots) median $39,568 with 88.9% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $141,900, record $144,000. A typical Irving Penn painting sells for around 3.6× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 182 lots) the median is $159,250.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 80 | $15,211–$79,980† | $36,875† | $345,139 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 69 | $23,750–$75,000‡ | $43,750‡ | $283,800 |
† 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 | $19,606–$59,288 | $35,283 | $214,305 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $25,069–$73,250 | $47,500 | $206,500 |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 86 | $20,079–$61,875 | $33,484 | $492,765 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 96 | $23,938–$60,177 | $35,000 | $459,750 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 705 | $8,925–$43,750†‡ | $20,428†‡ | $489,907 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 283 | $20,864–$90,457†‡ | $39,499†‡ | $1M |
† 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 | $1M |
| Photography | 2007 | $739,533 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2011 | $492,765 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $459,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $345,139 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $283,800 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $214,305 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $206,500 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Irving Penn worth?
Across 1,604 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Irving Penn work is $25,400. The median Irving Penn photograph sells for $23,555 across 1,123 lots. The median Irving Penn sculpture sells for $35,000 across 182 lots. The median Irving Penn print sells for $39,568 across 152 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Irving Penn photographs typically sell for $8,925–$43,750 (the middle half of 705 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Irving Penn photographs typically sell for $20,864–$90,457 (the middle half of 283 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 Irving Penn photograph?
Based on 1,123 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Irving Penn photograph is $23,555. 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 Irving Penn's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Irving Penn photograph is $1,044,736.
What is the average price of a Irving Penn sculpture?
Based on 182 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Irving Penn sculpture is $35,000.
What is Irving Penn's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Irving Penn sculpture is $492,765.
What is the average price of a Irving Penn print?
Based on 152 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Irving Penn print is $39,568. 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 Irving Penn's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Irving Penn print is $345,139.
What is the average price of a small Irving Penn photograph?
Based on 705 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Irving Penn photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $20,428, 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 medium Irving Penn photograph?
Based on 283 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Irving Penn photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $39,499, 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 Irving Penn's auction record?
Irving Penn's auction record is $1,044,736, set in 2008.
See the full Irving Penn record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Irving Penn on OpeningBid →