> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/lewis-w-hine · updated 2026-11-02

# HINE, LEWIS W. (1874–1940)

## What is HINE, LEWIS W.’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 251 auction results for HINE, LEWIS W. at 11 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,375 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,143–$1,375, n=5). The auction record is $125,000 for New York City from the Empire State Building (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City from the Empire State Building, 1874 | Wool | $125,000 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 2 | Mechanic at Steam Pump in Electric Power House, circa 1921 | Photograph | $81,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2018 |
| 3 | Spinner, Cotton Mill, Macon, Georgia, 1909 | Pencil | $60,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2012 |
| 4 | Derrick and Workers on Girder, Empire State Building, 1930-31 | Gelatin silver print | $33,020 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 5 | One of many youngsters working in Carolina cotton mills, 1908 | Photograph | $30,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2018 |
| 6 | Spinner, Cotton Mill, Augusta, Georgia, 1909 | Pencil | $26,400 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2010 |
| 7 | Ten-Year Old Spinner in Carolina Cotton Mill, 1908 | Gelatin silver print | $23,940 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 8 | Sadie Pfeifer, a Cotton Mill Spinner, Lancaster, South Carolina, 1908 | Photograph | $23,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2017 |
| 9 | Construction worker standing on an I-beam pulling a rope, Empire State Building, circa 1931 | Photograph | $21,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2016 |
| 10 | Safety-man coming up on mooring mast, Empire State Building, 1930 | Silver print | $21,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2013 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 5 | $4,250 |
| Photographs | 201 | $4,000 |
| Other | 40 | $2,750 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 238 | $3,840 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 251 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


HINE, LEWIS W. is an American artist with 396 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $3,750. 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 HINE, LEWIS W. sold in 2024 for $10,625, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a HINE, LEWIS W. work worth?

Across 251 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a HINE, LEWIS W. work is $3,750.

The median HINE, LEWIS W. photograph sells for $3,750 across 244 lots.

The median HINE, LEWIS W. print sells for $3,000 across 5 lots.

The median HINE, LEWIS W. work on paper sells for $5,032 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) HINE, LEWIS W. photographs typically sell for $2,400–$6,500 (the middle half of 236 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 | 9 | $3,000 | $4,000 | 55.6% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $5,032 | $8,190 | — | 2024-02-22 |
| Photography | 302 | $3,750†‡ | $125,000 | 80.8% | 2026-06-05 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $23,940 | $125,000 | — | 2023-05-02 |

† 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) | 5 | $1,143–$3,750 | $3,000 | $4,000 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 236 | $2,400–$6,500†‡ | $3,820†‡ | $125,000 |

† 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 | 2019 | $125,000 |
| Photography | 2018 | $81,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $8,190 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $4,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $1,875 |

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 HINE, LEWIS W. worth?

Across 251 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a HINE, LEWIS W. work is $3,750. The median HINE, LEWIS W. photograph sells for $3,750 across 244 lots. The median HINE, LEWIS W. print sells for $3,000 across 5 lots. The median HINE, LEWIS W. work on paper sells for $5,032 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) HINE, LEWIS W. photographs typically sell for $2,400–$6,500 (the middle half of 236 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 HINE, LEWIS W. photograph?

Based on 244 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a HINE, LEWIS W. photograph is $3,750. 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 HINE, LEWIS W.'s most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a HINE, LEWIS W. photograph is $125,000.

### What is the average price of a small HINE, LEWIS W. photograph?

Based on 236 sold lots, the median auction price of a small HINE, LEWIS W. photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,820, 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 HINE, LEWIS W.'s auction record?

HINE, LEWIS W.'s auction record is $125,000, set in 2019.

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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, “HINE, LEWIS W. auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/lewis-w-hine (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.