Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884–1976)
What is Karl Schmidt-Rottluff’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 811 auction results for Karl Schmidt-Rottluff at 26 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $20,987 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,821–$44,353, n=52). The auction record is $6,017,976 for Akte im Freien (Drei badende Frauen) (2008, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akte im Freien (Drei badende Frauen), 1913 | Oil paint | $6,017,976 | Christie's | Feb 2008 |
| 2 | In der Dämmerung, 1912 | Oil paint | $4,498,332 | Christie's | Jun 2005 |
| 3 | Lesende (Else Lasker-Schüler), 1912 | Oil on canvas | $4,286,956 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2022 |
| 4 | Der Garten, 1906 | Oil paint | $3,167,435 | Christie's | Jun 2008 |
| 5 | Grüner Kopf, 1916-1917 | Sculpture | $2,918,555 | Christie's | Feb 2008 |
| 6 | Rote Düne, 1913 | Oil on canvas | $2,053,726 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2022 |
| 7 | Gehöft (The Grange) | Oil on canvas | $1,986,500 | Sotheby's | Nov 2010 |
| 8 | Windiger Tag, 1907 | Oil paint | $1,892,042 | Christie's | Feb 2016 |
| 9 | Mädchen mit rotem Kragen, 1914 | Oil paint | $1,863,031 | Christie's | Feb 2014 |
| 10 | Badende am Strand, 1922 | Oil paint | $1,739,895 | Christie's | Feb 2015 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 70 | $290,373 |
| Works on paper | 219 | $26,771 |
| Other | 58 | $16,101 |
| Prints | 223 | $6,736 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $142,575 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 351 | $26,944 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 204 | $9,599 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 811 results from 26 houses · How we compute these figures
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff is a German artist with 1,097 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $13,006. 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 Schmidt-Rottluff sold in 2026 for $13,490, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
11 Karl Schmidt-Rottluff works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Karl Schmidt-Rottluff free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Karl Schmidt-Rottluff record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Karl Schmidt-Rottluff on OpeningBid →What is a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work worth?
Across 808 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work is $13,006.
The median Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print sells for $4,979 across 368 lots.
The median Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper sells for $23,398 across 282 lots.
The median Karl Schmidt-Rottluff painting sells for $184,783 across 92 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Karl Schmidt-Rottluff prints typically sell for $2,496–$10,000 (the middle half of 236 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on papers typically sell for $13,509–$39,515 (the middle half of 227 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 | 509 | $4,979†‡ | $106,052 | 72.3% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 102 | $184,783‡ | $6M | 90.2% | 2026-06-19 |
| Works on Paper | 344 | $23,398†‡ | $442,281 | 82% | 2026-10-06 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 7 | $8,325‡ | $2.9M | — | 2023-11-30 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 73 | $317,340‡ | $6M | — | 2026-06-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (509 lots) median $4,979 with 72.3% sell-through. Paintings (102 lots) median $184,783, record $6,017,976. A typical Karl Schmidt-Rottluff painting sells for around 37× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 73 lots) the median is $317,340.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 236 | $2,496–$10,000†‡ | $4,398†‡ | $106,052 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 119 | $2,906–$11,614†‡ | $5,812†‡ | $103,221 |
† 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) | 6 | $15,202–$49,975‡ | $17,531‡ | $290,373 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 82 | $43,535–$628,860‡ | $207,943‡ | $6M |
‡ 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) | 52 | $11,026–$27,128†‡ | $18,138†‡ | $270,397 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 227 | $13,509–$39,515†‡ | $24,610†‡ | $442,281 |
† 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) | 7 | $7,019–$23,919‡ | $8,325‡ | $2.9M |
‡ 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 | 2008 | $6M |
| Paintings | 2005 | $4.5M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2008 | $2.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $442,281 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $317,340 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $106,052 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $103,221 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $34,317 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff worth?
Across 808 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work is $13,006. The median Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print sells for $4,979 across 368 lots. The median Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper sells for $23,398 across 282 lots. The median Karl Schmidt-Rottluff painting sells for $184,783 across 92 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Karl Schmidt-Rottluff prints typically sell for $2,496–$10,000 (the middle half of 236 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on papers typically sell for $13,509–$39,515 (the middle half of 227 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 Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print?
Based on 368 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print is $4,979. 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 Schmidt-Rottluff's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print is $106,052.
What is the average price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper?
Based on 282 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper is $23,398. 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 Schmidt-Rottluff's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper is $442,281.
What is the average price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff painting?
Based on 92 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff painting is $184,783. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Schmidt-Rottluff painting is $6,017,976.
What is the average price of a small Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print?
Based on 236 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Karl Schmidt-Rottluff print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,398, 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 Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper?
Based on 227 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Karl Schmidt-Rottluff work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $24,610, 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 Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's auction record?
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's auction record is $6,017,976, set in 2008.
See the full Karl Schmidt-Rottluff record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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