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

# Karel Appel (1921–2006)

## What is Karel Appel’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,451 auction results for Karel Appel at 132 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,527 including buyer’s premium (middle half $635–$16,462, n=216). The auction record is $794,474 for Le grand chef Cobra (Big Chief Cobra) (2010, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le grand chef Cobra (Big Chief Cobra), 1950 | Oil paint | $794,474 | Christie's | Jun 2010 |
| 2 | Women, Children, Animals, 1951 | Oil paint | $757,500 | Christie's | May 2002 |
| 3 | Sans titre (huile sur toile), 1952 | Oil paint | $708,286 | Christie's | Jun 2021 |
| 4 | L'exode - le monde floral, 1953 | Oil paint | $700,448 | Christie's | Jun 2004 |
| 5 | Fille en pleurs | Huile sur toile | $627,808 | Sotheby's | May 2012 |
| 6 | LA VACHE, 1953 | Huile sur toile | $552,659 | Artcurial | Oct 2011 |
| 7 | Child with green ball, 1951 | Oil paint | $528,345 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |
| 8 | Têtes partout - Paysage humain | Huile sur toile | $508,850 | Sotheby's | Dec 2015 |
| 9 | Flying Faces (Movie Painting), 1961 | Oil paint | $504,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 10 | Deux Têtes (Two Heads), 1959 | Oil paint | $488,877 | Christie's | Dec 2017 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 428 | $47,964 |
| Other | 175 | $14,480 |
| Works on paper | 163 | $12,783 |
| Sculpture | 51 | $10,000 |
| Prints | 643 | $783 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 165 | $107,029 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 175 | $7,575 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 1,025 | $1,700 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,451 results from 132 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Karel Appel is a Dutch artist with 3,102 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $1,920. 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 Karel Appel sold in 2026 for $157,597, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**13 Karel Appel works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Karel Appel on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karel-appel?ref=kg:karel-appel) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Karel Appel work worth?

Across 2,376 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karel Appel work is $1,920.

The median Karel Appel print sells for $647 across 1,153 lots.

The median Karel Appel painting sells for $39,838 across 584 lots.

The median Karel Appel work on paper sells for $15,000 across 222 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Karel Appel prints typically sell for $450–$1,076 (the middle half of 1,006 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Karel Appel paintings typically sell for $19,588–$61,275 (the middle half of 314 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 | 1,343 | $647†‡ | $128,556 | 85.9% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 704 | $39,838†‡ | $794,474 | 83% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 264 | $15,000†‡ | $433,537 | 84.1% | 2026-10-08 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 64 | $11,875†‡ | $84,472 | 73.4% | 2025-11-25 |
| Photography | 4 | $3,750† | $8,750 | — | 2019-11-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 149 | $177,800†‡ | $794,474 | — | 2026-10-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Karel Appel's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,343 lots) median $647 with 85.9% sell-through. Paintings (704 lots) median $39,838, record $794,474. A typical Karel Appel painting sells for around 62× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 149 lots) the median is $177,800.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 78 | $274–$774†‡ | $475†‡ | $5,400 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 1,006 | $450–$1,076†‡ | $662†‡ | $128,556 |

† 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) | 82 | $14,647–$35,307†‡ | $23,078†‡ | $183,202 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 314 | $19,588–$61,275†‡ | $31,795†‡ | $794,474 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 149 | $62,256–$205,972†‡ | $122,500†‡ | $757,500 |

† 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) | 61 | $3,251–$12,052†‡ | $7,180†‡ | $42,305 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 140 | $10,138–$25,973†‡ | $18,057†‡ | $107,277 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $40,563–$58,886‡ | $48,377‡ | $433,537 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 28 | $4,672–$17,812†‡ | $5,975†‡ | $57,150 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 13 | $15,000–$18,779†‡ | $15,625†‡ | $84,472 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2010 | $794,474 |
| Paintings | 2002 | $757,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $433,537 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $228,872 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $128,556 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $128,556 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $84,472 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $57,150 |

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 Karel Appel worth?

Across 2,376 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karel Appel work is $1,920. The median Karel Appel print sells for $647 across 1,153 lots. The median Karel Appel painting sells for $39,838 across 584 lots. The median Karel Appel work on paper sells for $15,000 across 222 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Karel Appel prints typically sell for $450–$1,076 (the middle half of 1,006 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Karel Appel paintings typically sell for $19,588–$61,275 (the middle half of 314 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 Karel Appel print?

Based on 1,153 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karel Appel print is $647. 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 Karel Appel's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karel Appel print is $128,556.

### What is the average price of a Karel Appel painting?

Based on 584 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karel Appel painting is $39,838. 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 Karel Appel's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karel Appel painting is $794,474.

### What is the average price of a Karel Appel work on paper?

Based on 222 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karel Appel work on paper is $15,000. 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 Karel Appel's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karel Appel work on paper is $433,537.

### What is the average price of a medium Karel Appel print?

Based on 1,006 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Karel Appel print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $662, 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 Karel Appel painting?

Based on 314 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Karel Appel painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $31,795, 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 Karel Appel's auction record?

Karel Appel's auction record is $794,474, set in 2010.

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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, “Karel Appel auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karel-appel (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.