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

# Josef Sudek (1896–1976)

## What is Josef Sudek’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Window of my Studio, 1950 | Gelatin silver print | $57,229 | Christie's | Feb 2016 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 508 | $2,515 |
| Other | 147 | $1,875 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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).

- [Josef Sudek on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/josef-sudek?ref=kg:josef-sudek) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “Josef Sudek auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/josef-sudek (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.