Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806)
What is Kitagawa Utamaro’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 434 auction results for Kitagawa Utamaro at 40 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,886 including buyer’s premium (middle half $414–$5,461, n=39). The auction record is $7,100,526 for Fukagawa in Snow (Fukagawa no yuki) (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fukagawa in Snow (Fukagawa no yuki), 1802 | Lacquer | $7,100,526 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | Standing geisha, 1802 | Colour | $1,060,422 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | L'amour évident (Arawaruru koi), 1806 | Signé Utamaro hitsu | $430,269 | Artcurial | May 2018 |
| 4 | Seiro juni toki tsuzuki (The twelve hours in the pleasure quarter), circa 1794 | Woodblock prints | $226,800 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 5 | Portrait en buste (okubi-e) de la veuve d'Asahiya se nettoyant le visage avec un tissu (Asahiya goke), 1806 | Signé Utamaro hitsu | $106,543 | Artcurial | May 2018 |
| 6 | Portrait en buste (okubi-e) de Tatsumi Rokô ajustant les cheveux derrière son oreille droite, 1806 | Signé Utamaro hitsu | $102,445 | Artcurial | May 2018 |
| 7 | Three courtesans | Colour | $97,885 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daimonjiya nai Tagasode, Tomeki, Kaoru (The courtesan Tagasode of the Daimonjiya; with the names of her girl attendants, Tomeki and Kaoru), 1794 | Woodcuts | $250,000 | Christie's | Sep 2020 |
| 2 | Utamakura (Poem of the pillow), 1754 | Ink | $126,000 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 3 | UTAMAKURA [POEM OF THE PILLOW], 1788 | Woodcuts | $109,207 | Christie's | Oct 2013 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 76 | $11,875 |
| Other | 206 | $3,775 |
| Works on paper | 42 | $2,037 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 262 | $6,836 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 13 | $4,066 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 434 results from 40 houses · How we compute these figures
Kitagawa Utamaro is a Japanese artist with 512 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $2,904. 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 Kitagawa Utamaro sold in 2026 for $4,826, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 Kitagawa Utamaro works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Kitagawa Utamaro free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Kitagawa Utamaro record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Kitagawa Utamaro on OpeningBid →What is a Kitagawa Utamaro work worth?
Across 412 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kitagawa Utamaro work is $2,904.
The median Kitagawa Utamaro print sells for $4,262 across 300 lots.
The median Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper sells for $2,306 across 46 lots.
The median Kitagawa Utamaro painting sells for $1,092 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Kitagawa Utamaro prints typically sell for $1,383–$17,912 (the middle half of 240 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Kitagawa Utamaro work on papers typically sell for $2,362–$12,018 (the middle half of 22 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 | 328 | $4,262†‡ | $430,269 | 91.5% | 2026-09-01 |
| Paintings | 2 | $1,092 | $1,092 | 50% | 2017-12-09 |
| Works on Paper | 47 | $2,306 | $1.1M | 97.9% | 2025-11-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $75,300 | $7.1M | — | 2025-11-22 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Kitagawa Utamaro's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (328 lots) median $4,262 with 91.5% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $1,092, record $1,092. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 24 lots) the median is $75,300.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 240 | $1,383–$17,912†‡ | $6,250†‡ | $430,269 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $1,700–$7,812† | $2,500† | $25,000 |
† 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) | 22 | $2,362–$12,018 | $4,526 | $60,089 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1.1M |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $430,269 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $250,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $97,885 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $1,092 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kitagawa Utamaro worth?
Across 412 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kitagawa Utamaro work is $2,904. The median Kitagawa Utamaro print sells for $4,262 across 300 lots. The median Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper sells for $2,306 across 46 lots. The median Kitagawa Utamaro painting sells for $1,092 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Kitagawa Utamaro prints typically sell for $1,383–$17,912 (the middle half of 240 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Kitagawa Utamaro work on papers typically sell for $2,362–$12,018 (the middle half of 22 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 Kitagawa Utamaro print?
Based on 300 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kitagawa Utamaro print is $4,262. 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 Kitagawa Utamaro's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kitagawa Utamaro print is $430,269.
What is the average price of a Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper?
Based on 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper is $2,306.
What is Kitagawa Utamaro's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper is $1,060,422.
What is the average price of a small Kitagawa Utamaro print?
Based on 240 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Kitagawa Utamaro print (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,250, 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 Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Kitagawa Utamaro work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,526, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Kitagawa Utamaro's auction record?
Kitagawa Utamaro's auction record is $7,100,526, set in 2025.
See the full Kitagawa Utamaro record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Kitagawa Utamaro on OpeningBid →