> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-dubuffet · updated 2026-11-02

# Dubuffet Jean (1901–1985)

## What is Dubuffet Jean’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 377 auction results for Dubuffet Jean at 44 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $25,801 including buyer’s premium (middle half $689–$130,012, n=11). The auction record is $3,287,000 for Le Messager (2020, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Messager, 1961 | Oil on canvas | $3,287,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 2 | RUE TOURNIQUE BOURLIQUE, 1963 | Oil on canvas | $3,166,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 3 | Trois personnages de peu de présence, 1957 | Huile et assemblages sur papier marouflé sur toile | $981,843 | Christie's | Jun 2016 |
| 4 | Femme de Profil, 1946 | Oil and sand on board | $828,160 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 5 | LE CONJECTURAL, 1972-1973 | Acrylic on klegecell | $746,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 6 | PAYSAGE ROUGEOYANT PEUPLÉ DE PERSONNAGES, 1975 | Acrylic on paper mounted to canvas | $680,000 | Sotheby's | Jun 2020 |
| 7 | Le Chèvrier Ventru, 1953 | Oil on canvas | $577,247 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 8 | Paysage avec personnage, 1952 | Encre de Chine sur papier | $474,521 | Christie's | Jun 2016 |
| 9 | Cafetière, Tasse et Sucrier, 1965 | Painting | $393,108 | Sotheby's | Jun 2020 |
| 10 | Visage (Tête d’homme), 1966 | Transfer on polyester resin | $388,690 | Christie's | May 2016 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 28 | $196,725 |
| Works on paper | 42 | $35,164 |
| Prints | 136 | $4,662 |
| Other | 38 | $818 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $304,281 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 119 | $15,866 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 88 | $8,595 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 377 results from 44 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Dubuffet Jean is a French artist with 422 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $10,521. 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 Dubuffet Jean sold in 2026 for $32,261, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Dubuffet Jean work worth?

Across 360 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dubuffet Jean work is $10,521.

The median Dubuffet Jean print sells for $4,000 across 210 lots.

The median Dubuffet Jean work on paper sells for $52,329 across 69 lots.

The median Dubuffet Jean painting sells for $202,338 across 44 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Dubuffet Jean prints typically sell for $3,498–$15,249 (the middle half of 91 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Dubuffet Jean prints typically sell for $238–$5,810 (the middle half of 57 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 | 241 | $4,000†‡ | $205,130 | 87.1% | 2026-04-14 |
| Paintings | 44 | $202,338†‡ | $3.3M | — | 2026-04-16 |
| Works on Paper | 74 | $52,329†‡ | $474,521 | 93.2% | 2026-06-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 6 | $357,759† | $1.4M | — | 2024-01-31 |
| Photography | 9 | $1,584‡ | $23,930 | 88.9% | 2026-04-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 75 | $212,500†‡ | $3.3M | — | 2026-04-16 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Dubuffet Jean's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (241 lots) median $4,000 with 87.1% sell-through. Paintings (44 lots) median $202,338, record $3,287,000. A typical Dubuffet Jean painting sells for around 51× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 75 lots) the median is $212,500.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 57 | $238–$5,810†‡ | $1,408†‡ | $53,148 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 91 | $3,498–$15,249†‡ | $6,778†‡ | $205,130 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 36 | $128,561–$358,556†‡ | $196,412†‡ | $3.3M |

† 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) | 42 | $16,590–$70,746 | $32,567 | $352,544 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 24 | $72,149–$190,558‡ | $131,506‡ | $474,521 |

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $1,022–$3,842‡ | $1,725‡ | $23,930 |

‡ 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 | 2020 | $3.3M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $3.2M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2007 | $1.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2005 | $572,908 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $474,521 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $387,188 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $205,130 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $200,442 |

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 Dubuffet Jean worth?

Across 360 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Dubuffet Jean work is $10,521. The median Dubuffet Jean print sells for $4,000 across 210 lots. The median Dubuffet Jean work on paper sells for $52,329 across 69 lots. The median Dubuffet Jean painting sells for $202,338 across 44 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Dubuffet Jean prints typically sell for $3,498–$15,249 (the middle half of 91 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Dubuffet Jean prints typically sell for $238–$5,810 (the middle half of 57 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 Dubuffet Jean print?

Based on 210 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dubuffet Jean print is $4,000. 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 Dubuffet Jean's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Dubuffet Jean print is $205,130.

### What is the average price of a Dubuffet Jean work on paper?

Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dubuffet Jean work on paper is $52,329. 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 Dubuffet Jean's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Dubuffet Jean work on paper is $474,521.

### What is the average price of a Dubuffet Jean painting?

Based on 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Dubuffet Jean painting is $202,338. 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 Dubuffet Jean's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Dubuffet Jean painting is $3,287,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Dubuffet Jean print?

Based on 91 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Dubuffet Jean print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,778, 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 Dubuffet Jean print?

Based on 57 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Dubuffet Jean print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,408, 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 Dubuffet Jean's auction record?

Dubuffet Jean's auction record is $3,287,000, set in 2020.

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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, “Dubuffet Jean auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-dubuffet (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.
