Jean Jacques Sempé (1932–2022)
What is Jean Jacques Sempé’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 72 auction results for Jean Jacques Sempé at 16 houses since 2011. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,621 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,726–$10,631, n=11). The auction record is $19,833 for Marthe ? C'est Suzanne. Je suis à Sainte-Eulalie de la Rédemption. Tu veux que je demande quelque chose pour toi ? (2025, PIASA). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marthe ? C'est Suzanne. Je suis à Sainte-Eulalie de la Rédemption. Tu veux que je demande quelque chose pour toi ?, 2003 | Ink | $19,833 | PIASA | Mar 2025 |
| 2 | Mon petit Robert, ton père n'a jamais eu beaucoup d'intuition, certes, mais c'était un homme de caractère, 1972 | Charcoal sticks | $16,999 | PIASA | Mar 2025 |
| 3 | À vélo, chacun son chemin | Pastel | $14,232 | Ader | Nov 2018 |
| 4 | Dans la nuit, 2010 | Aquarelle | $12,382 | Ader | Nov 2017 |
| 5 | Lettre de Paul à Solange, 1974 | Plume, encre noire et collage | $12,150 | Ader | Mar 2026 |
| 6 | Lettre à Solange, 1974 | Encre | $9,569 | Ader | Apr 2022 |
| 7 | En revanche, la femme, elle, trouve dans l’accomplissement des tâches quotidiennes, matière à sa réalisation | Encre et lavis d’encre | $9,112 | Ader | Mar 2026 |
| 8 | En revanche, la femme | Encre et lavis d'encre | $8,884 | Ader | Jun 2020 |
| 9 | LE VIOLONISTE, 1978 | Ink on paper | $8,012 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Dec 2020 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Projet d’affiche pour La Patemouille, créée au Théâtre de la Michodière le 21 janvier 1982, 1982 | Encre, crayon et mine de plomb | $8,126 | Ader | Oct 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 5 | $14,232 |
| Other | 15 | $5,471 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $10,860 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 16 | $5,276 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 72 results from 16 houses · How we compute these figures
Jean Jacques Sempé is a French artist with 81 auction lots recorded since 2011, median price $3,931. 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 Jean Jacques Sempé sold in 2026 for $5,346, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Jean Jacques Sempé work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Jean Jacques Sempé free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Jean Jacques Sempé record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean Jacques Sempé on OpeningBid →What is a Jean Jacques Sempé work worth?
Across 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Jacques Sempé work is $3,931.
The median Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper sells for $4,048 across 51 lots.
The median Jean Jacques Sempé print sells for $913 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Jean Jacques Sempé work on papers typically sell for $2,844–$5,205 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 6 | $913†‡ | $8,126 | — | 2026-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 54 | $4,048†‡ | $43,724† | 94.4% | 2026-04-26 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $26,007† | $43,724† | — | 2025-03-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $2,844–$5,205†‡ | $3,739†‡ | $19,833 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $4,505–$11,992†‡ | $8,172†‡ | $43,724† |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $43,724† |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $19,833 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $8,126 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $2,813† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jean Jacques Sempé worth?
Across 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Jacques Sempé work is $3,931. The median Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper sells for $4,048 across 51 lots. The median Jean Jacques Sempé print sells for $913 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Jean Jacques Sempé work on papers typically sell for $2,844–$5,205 (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 Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper?
Based on 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper is $4,048. 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 Jean Jacques Sempé's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper is $43,724. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $43,724 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a small Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,739, 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 Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean Jacques Sempé work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,172, 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 Jean Jacques Sempé's auction record?
Jean Jacques Sempé's auction record is $43,724, set in 2023. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $43,724 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full Jean Jacques Sempé record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean Jacques Sempé on OpeningBid →