James Ensor (1860–1949)
What is James Ensor’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 785 auction results for James Ensor at 47 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,203 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,761–$19,176, n=68). The auction record is $7,894,601 for Squelette arrêtant masques (2016, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squelette arrêtant masques, 1891 | Huile sur toile | $7,894,601 | Sotheby's | Dec 2016 |
| 2 | Pierrot et squelettes, 1907 | Oil paint | $3,521,366 | Christie's | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Nature morte au Magot-Chinoiseries, étoffes, 1891 | Oil paint | $2,561,551 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 4 | Les joueurs, 1902 | Oil paint | $2,536,465 | Christie's | Jun 2012 |
| 5 | Baptême des masques, 1860 | — | $1,581,120 | Christie's | Feb 2020 |
| 6 | Les bons juges, 1891 | Painting | $1,336,996 | Christie's | Feb 2004 |
| 7 | Scènes de la Vie du Christ, 1860 | Drawings | $1,064,196 | Christie's | Feb 2020 |
| 8 | Les pêches, 1890 | Painting | $965,814 | Christie's | Feb 2007 |
| 9 | L' Appel de la sirène (La Baignade), 1893 | Painting | $860,576 | Christie's | Jun 2014 |
| 10 | Gestes de nymphes, 1926 | Oil paint | $781,765 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 52 | $191,069 |
| Works on paper | 55 | $10,538 |
| Other | 59 | $4,716 |
| Prints | 479 | $3,374 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 45 | $45,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 556 | $4,087 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $2,348 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 785 results from 47 houses · How we compute these figures
James Ensor is a Belgian artist with 893 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $3,750. 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 James Ensor sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $7,988 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
9 James Ensor works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow James Ensor free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full James Ensor record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Ensor on OpeningBid →What is a James Ensor work worth?
Across 779 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Ensor work is $3,750.
The median James Ensor print sells for $2,933 across 553 lots.
The median James Ensor work on paper sells for $9,775 across 89 lots.
The median James Ensor painting sells for $184,121 across 62 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) James Ensor prints typically sell for $1,571–$6,523 (the middle half of 511 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) James Ensor work on papers typically sell for $4,083–$17,615 (the middle half of 74 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 | 609 | $2,933†‡ | $315,548 | 90.8% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 69 | $184,121† | $7.9M | 89.9% | 2026-03-07 |
| Works on Paper | 95 | $9,775†‡ | $1.1M | 93.7% | 2026-09-15 |
| Photography | 4 | $2,290 | $2,290 | 25% | 2021-04-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 58 | $248,163‡ | $7.9M | — | 2026-09-15 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
James Ensor's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (609 lots) median $2,933 with 90.8% sell-through. Paintings (69 lots) median $184,121, record $7,894,601. A typical James Ensor painting sells for around 63× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 58 lots) the median is $248,163.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 511 | $1,571–$6,523†‡ | $2,950†‡ | $315,548 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $1,933–$5,844† | $2,799† | $12,681 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $1,852–$4,570 | $2,331 | $22,500 |
† 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) | 32 | $44,914–$394,406† | $103,598† | $7.9M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $178,219–$662,118 | $257,635 | $3.5M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 74 | $4,083–$17,615† | $7,670† | $1.1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $35,193–$43,750‡ | $36,592‡ | $60,902 |
† 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 | 2016 | $7.9M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $3.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $1.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $405,948 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $315,548 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $223,626 |
| Photography | 2021 | $2,290 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Ensor worth?
Across 779 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Ensor work is $3,750. The median James Ensor print sells for $2,933 across 553 lots. The median James Ensor work on paper sells for $9,775 across 89 lots. The median James Ensor painting sells for $184,121 across 62 lots. Small (under 50 cm) James Ensor prints typically sell for $1,571–$6,523 (the middle half of 511 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) James Ensor work on papers typically sell for $4,083–$17,615 (the middle half of 74 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 James Ensor print?
Based on 553 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Ensor print is $2,933. 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 James Ensor's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Ensor print is $315,548.
What is the average price of a James Ensor work on paper?
Based on 89 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Ensor work on paper is $9,775. 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 James Ensor's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Ensor work on paper is $1,064,196.
What is the average price of a James Ensor painting?
Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Ensor painting is $184,121. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is James Ensor's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Ensor painting is $7,894,601.
What is the average price of a small James Ensor print?
Based on 511 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Ensor print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,950, 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 James Ensor work on paper?
Based on 74 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Ensor work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,670, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is James Ensor's auction record?
James Ensor's auction record is $7,894,601, set in 2016.
See the full James Ensor record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Ensor on OpeningBid →