Josef Sudek (1896–1976)
What is Josef Sudek’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 759 auction results for Josef Sudek at 40 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,384 including buyer’s premium (middle half $754–$4,031, n=54). The auction record is $114,000 for 'IN THE STUDIO' (NUDE) (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'IN THE STUDIO' (NUDE) | Pigment print on handmade paper, signed by the photographer in pencil in the margin and annotated by him in pencil on the reverse, matted, 1951-52 | $114,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 2 | Profile of a Veiled Head, 1950 | Pigment print | $103,280 | Christie's | Oct 2004 |
| 3 | STILL LIFE WITH GLASS AND BOTTLE | — | $102,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 4 | The Third Courtyard of Prague Castle, 1947 | Myrrh | $61,250 | Phillips | Apr 2017 |
| 5 | 'konvalinka' (lily of the valley) | — | $58,600 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 6 | Still Life (PAPER OVER LAMP) | — | $52,800 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 7 | pear on a crooked plate | Pigment print, signed and dated by the photographer in the margin, annotated by him on the reverse, matted, framed, 1951 | $49,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 8 | In the Workshop, 1947 | Myrrh | $47,800 | Christie's | Oct 2002 |
| 9 | still life with glass, leaf, and flowers | Pigment print, signed and dated by the photographer in pencil in the margin, annotated by him in pencil on the reverse and with a partial stamp that reads 'Nr. 31. . . glatt mit gelblichem Ton' ['smooth with yellowish tone'] on the reverse, matted, framed, 1952 | $39,400 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Window of my Studio, 1950 | Gelatin silver print | $57,229 | Christie's | Feb 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 508 | $2,515 |
| Other | 147 | $1,875 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 507 | $3,013 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 5 | $2,300 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 759 results from 40 houses · How we compute these figures
Josef Sudek is a Czech artist with 1,215 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,293. 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 Josef Sudek sold in 2026 for $6,350, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Josef Sudek work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Josef Sudek free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Josef Sudek record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Josef Sudek on OpeningBid →What is a Josef Sudek work worth?
Across 753 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Josef Sudek work is $2,293.
The median Josef Sudek photograph sells for $2,295 across 640 lots.
The median Josef Sudek print sells for $5,000 across 40 lots.
The median Josef Sudek work on paper sells for $1,735 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Josef Sudek photographs typically sell for $1,376–$5,542 (the middle half of 506 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Josef Sudek prints typically sell for $2,280–$12,500 (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 | 52 | $5,000 | $61,250 | 76.9% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $1,735 | $13,750 | — | 2016-04-06 |
| Photography | 799 | $2,295†‡ | $103,280 | 80.1% | 2026-08-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 37 | $30,456 | $114,000 | — | 2025-10-10 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $2,280–$12,500 | $5,040 | $61,250 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 506 | $1,376–$5,542†‡ | $2,990†‡ | $103,280 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $2,200–$7,500 | $2,300 | $7,969 |
† 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 | 2004 | $103,280 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $61,250 |
| Photography | 2016 | $57,229 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $40,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $13,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $8,564 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Josef Sudek worth?
Across 753 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Josef Sudek work is $2,293. The median Josef Sudek photograph sells for $2,295 across 640 lots. The median Josef Sudek print sells for $5,000 across 40 lots. The median Josef Sudek work on paper sells for $1,735 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Josef Sudek photographs typically sell for $1,376–$5,542 (the middle half of 506 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Josef Sudek prints typically sell for $2,280–$12,500 (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 Josef Sudek photograph?
Based on 640 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Sudek photograph is $2,295. 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 Josef Sudek's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Josef Sudek photograph is $103,280.
What is the average price of a Josef Sudek print?
Based on 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Josef Sudek print is $5,000.
What is Josef Sudek's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Josef Sudek print is $61,250.
What is the average price of a small Josef Sudek photograph?
Based on 506 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Josef Sudek photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,990, 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 Josef Sudek print?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Josef Sudek print (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,040, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Josef Sudek's auction record?
Josef Sudek's auction record is $103,280, set in 2004.
See the full Josef Sudek record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Josef Sudek on OpeningBid →