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

# Jean Messagier (1920–1999)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 375 auction results for Jean Messagier at 36 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,860 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,812–$10,868, n=53). The auction record is $66,655 for La grande fracture des matins (2026, PIASA). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La grande fracture des matins, 1920 | Acrylic paint | $66,655 | PIASA | Jun 2026 |
| 2 | Frontispice pour un printemps, 1961 | Huile sur toile | $44,495 | Artcurial | Dec 2018 |
| 3 | Les grands attrapeurs, 1961 | Oil paint | $43,487 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 4 | Labours à ciel, 1969 | Oil on canvas | $42,651 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 5 | L'Europe verte, 1966 | Oil on canvas | $39,985 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 6 | Chiens de septembre, 1962 | Oil paint | $39,760 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 7 | Paysage clitocybe, 1967 | Signée et titrée en bas à droite "Messagier | $36,842 | Artcurial | Mar 2020 |
| 8 | Traversée de Juin, 1956 | Painting | $35,560 | Sotheby's | Oct 2025 |
| 9 | Les rutileurs d'automne I, 1964 | Signée en bas à droite "Messagier" | $32,421 | Artcurial | Mar 2020 |
| 10 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1961 | Huile sur toile | $31,736 | Christie's | May 2008 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 123 | $8,070 |
| Other | 48 | $2,226 |
| Sculpture | 8 | $2,126 |
| Works on paper | 20 | $1,217 |
| Prints | 37 | $136 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 55 | $10,868 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 95 | $1,383 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $915 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 375 results from 36 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Jean Messagier is a French artist with 522 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,878. 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 Messagier is recorded as sold in 2026 for $3,352; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Jean Messagier work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Jean Messagier on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-messagier?ref=kg:jean-messagier) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Jean Messagier work worth?

Across 358 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Messagier work is $2,878.

The median Jean Messagier painting sells for $7,575 across 162 lots.

The median Jean Messagier work on paper sells for $1,039 across 64 lots.

The median Jean Messagier print sells for $139 across 60 lots.

Large (over 120 cm) Jean Messagier paintings typically sell for $7,841–$16,375 (the middle half of 67 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Messagier paintings typically sell for $3,097–$6,866 (the middle half of 50 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 | 75 | $139†‡ | $12,489 | 80% | 2026-10-11 |
| Paintings | 174 | $7,575†‡ | $66,655 | 93.1% | 2026-07-02 |
| Works on Paper | 75 | $1,039†‡ | $4,843† | 85.3% | 2026-06-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 16 | $2,042† | $5,517† | 81.3% | 2025-05-16 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 19 | $31,736 | $66,655 | — | 2026-06-30 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Jean Messagier's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (75 lots) median $139 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (174 lots) median $7,575, record $66,655. A typical Jean Messagier painting sells for around 55× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 19 lots) the median is $31,736.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 50 | $105–$235†‡ | $139†‡ | $1,547 |

† 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) | 13 | $767–$3,323†‡ | $848†‡ | $5,978 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 50 | $3,097–$6,866†‡ | $5,108†‡ | $11,944 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 67 | $7,841–$16,375†‡ | $10,108†‡ | $66,655 |

† 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) | 18 | $187–$713† | $341† | $1,125 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 39 | $866–$2,346†‡ | $1,294†‡ | $4,843† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $1,194–$2,960† | $1,800† | $4,366 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2026 | $66,655 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $44,495 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $12,489 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $5,517† |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $4,843† |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $4,635‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $4,366 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $1,688 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 Jean Messagier worth?

Across 358 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Messagier work is $2,878. The median Jean Messagier painting sells for $7,575 across 162 lots. The median Jean Messagier work on paper sells for $1,039 across 64 lots. The median Jean Messagier print sells for $139 across 60 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Jean Messagier paintings typically sell for $7,841–$16,375 (the middle half of 67 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Messagier paintings typically sell for $3,097–$6,866 (the middle half of 50 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 Messagier painting?

Based on 162 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Messagier painting is $7,575. 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 Messagier's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Messagier painting is $66,655.

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

Based on 64 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Messagier work on paper is $1,039. 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 Messagier's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Messagier work on paper is $4,843. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $4,843 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Jean Messagier print?

Based on 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Messagier print is $139. 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 Messagier's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Messagier print is $12,489.

### What is the average price of a large Jean Messagier painting?

Based on 67 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Jean Messagier painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $10,108, 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 Messagier painting?

Based on 50 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean Messagier painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,108, 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 Messagier's auction record?

Jean Messagier's auction record is $66,655, set in 2026.

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