> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karl-blechen · updated 2026-11-01

# Karl Blechen (1798–1840)

## What is Karl Blechen’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 26 auction results for Karl Blechen at 7 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $11,194 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,239–$13,433, n=5). The auction record is $120,172 for Verwitterter Baumstamm (2010, Ketterer Kunst). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verwitterter Baumstamm | Oil on paper | $120,172 | Ketterer Kunst | Apr 2010 |
| 2 | Dünenlandschaft mit von Eichen umstandenem Hünengrab (Dune landscape with a burial mound surrounded by oaks), after 1835 | Watercolour and pen and brown ink over pencil on wove watermarked “J. Whatman 1831” | $103,660 | Karl & Faber | Nov 2022 |
| 3 | Märkische Landschaften, 1944 | Oil on panel | $97,437 | Ketterer Kunst | Apr 2010 |
| 4 | Berglandschaft von Piediluco mit Prozession | Oil on canvas | $59,139 | Sotheby's | Jun 2020 |
| 5 | Blechen auf der Wanderschaft | Watercolor on light cardboard | $43,846 | Ketterer Kunst | Apr 2010 |
| 6 | Heidelberger Schloss. Der zersprengte Turm, circa 1830 | Oil on canvas | $37,274 | Karl & Faber | Nov 2025 |
| 7 | Landschaft mit Ruinen einer Burg (Landscape with ruins and a castle), circa 1820 | Oil on panel | $23,859 | Karl & Faber | May 2023 |
| 8 | A watermill in a wooded area | Watercolour | $16,097 | Koller Auktionen | Sep 2020 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burgruine | Lithograph | $38,481 | Ketterer Kunst | Oct 2009 |
| 2 | Kloster im Walde, 1823 | Etching | $18,324 | Ketterer Kunst | Oct 2009 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 7 | $37,274 |
| Works on paper | 6 | $13,645 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $17,211 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 26 results from 7 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Karl Blechen is a German artist with 33 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $13,783. 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 Karl Blechen sold in 2025 for $37,274, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Karl Blechen work worth?

Across 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Blechen work is $13,783.

The median Karl Blechen work on paper sells for $9,177 across 12 lots.

The median Karl Blechen painting sells for $18,996 across 10 lots.

The median Karl Blechen print sells for $38,162 across 3 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 | 4 | $38,162‡ | $38,481 | 75% | 2009-10-23 |
| Paintings | 12 | $18,996†‡ | $120,172 | 83.3% | 2025-11-14 |
| Works on Paper | 14 | $9,177‡ | $103,660 | 85.7% | 2025-05-16 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Karl Blechen's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $38,162 with 75% sell-through. Paintings (12 lots) median $18,996, record $120,172.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $9,259–$68,713†‡ | $13,783†‡ | $120,172 |

† 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) | 12 | $2,100–$22,256‡ | $9,177‡ | $103,660 |

‡ 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 | $120,172 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $103,660 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $97,437 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $43,846 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $38,481 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $38,162‡ |

‡ 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 Karl Blechen worth?

Across 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Blechen work is $13,783. The median Karl Blechen work on paper sells for $9,177 across 12 lots. The median Karl Blechen painting sells for $18,996 across 10 lots. The median Karl Blechen print sells for $38,162 across 3 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 Karl Blechen work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Blechen work on paper is $9,177. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Karl Blechen's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Blechen work on paper is $103,660.

### What is the average price of a Karl Blechen painting?

Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Blechen painting is $18,996. 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 Karl Blechen's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Blechen painting is $120,172.

### What is the average price of a small Karl Blechen work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Karl Blechen work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $9,177, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Karl Blechen's auction record?

Karl Blechen's auction record is $120,172, set in 2010.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Karl Blechen auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karl-blechen (updated 2026-11-01).

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.