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

# Max Ernst (1891–1976)

## What is Max Ernst’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,446 auction results for Max Ernst at 108 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $13,752 including buyer’s premium (middle half $953–$104,337, n=193). The auction record is $24,435,000 for Le roi jouant avec la reine (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le roi jouant avec la reine, 1944 | Bronze | $24,435,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 2 | Le roi jouant avec la reine, 1944 | Bronze | $20,185,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | The Stolen Mirror, 1941 | Oil paint | $16,322,500 | Christie's | Nov 2011 |
| 4 | The Stolen Mirror, 1941 | Oil paint | $11,000,329 | Christie's | Feb 2016 |
| 5 | The Phases of the Night, 1891 | Oil paint | $6,407,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 6 | Untitled, 1960 | Oil paint | $5,760,000 | Christie's | Oct 2016 |
| 7 | La chute de l'ange, 1923 | Oil paint | $4,423,986 | Christie's | Jun 2011 |
| 8 | Cage, forêt et soleil noir, 1927 | Oil with | $4,249,444 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |
| 9 | Coloradeau de Méduse, 1953 | Oil paint | $3,925,401 | Christie's | Mar 2025 |
| 10 | Fruit d'une longue expérience, 1919 | Relief en bois et métal peint dans son cadre d'artiste | $3,817,577 | Christie's | Oct 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 359 | $185,000 |
| Sculpture | 141 | $52,670 |
| Works on paper | 202 | $19,279 |
| Photographs | 6 | $15,595 |
| Other | 235 | $13,141 |
| Prints | 612 | $1,292 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 43 | $237,106 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 360 | $8,120 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 1,068 | $8,077 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,446 results from 108 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Max Ernst is a German artist with 3,217 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $2,400. 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 Max Ernst sold in 2026 for $114,616, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**18 Max Ernst works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Max Ernst on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/max-ernst?ref=kg:max-ernst) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Max Ernst work worth?

Across 2,401 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Max Ernst work is $2,400.

The median Max Ernst print sells for $1,085 across 1,253 lots.

The median Max Ernst painting sells for $191,889 across 357 lots.

The median Max Ernst work on paper sells for $18,900 across 240 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Max Ernst prints typically sell for $681–$2,164 (the middle half of 924 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Max Ernst prints typically sell for $559–$1,677 (the middle half of 266 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 | 1,501 | $1,085†‡ | $1M | 83.5% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 400 | $191,889†‡ | $16.3M | 89.3% | 2026-10-16 |
| Works on Paper | 279 | $18,900†‡ | $595,608 | 86% | 2026-06-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 165 | $31,294†‡ | $24.4M | 95.2% | 2026-03-06 |
| Photography | 57 | $852†‡ | $82,433 | 87.7% | 2026-06-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 407 | $269,420†‡ | $24.4M | — | 2026-10-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Max Ernst's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,501 lots) median $1,085 with 83.5% sell-through. Paintings (400 lots) median $191,889, record $16,322,500. A typical Max Ernst painting sells for around 177× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 407 lots) the median is $269,420.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 924 | $681–$2,164†‡ | $1,136†‡ | $1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 266 | $559–$1,677†‡ | $952†‡ | $35,069 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $1,168–$13,642†‡ | $3,453†‡ | $224,787 |

† 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) | 210 | $89,205–$205,650†‡ | $135,197†‡ | $3.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 123 | $286,676–$1.1M†‡ | $602,500†‡ | $16.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 13 | $671,927–$2.4M | $1.1M | $6.4M |

† 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) | 204 | $8,039–$48,296†‡ | $18,086†‡ | $507,571 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $14,945–$131,687 | $79,566 | $595,608 |

† 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) | 102 | $10,223–$69,455†‡ | $18,983†‡ | $3.8M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 35 | $40,950–$866,715†‡ | $189,000†‡ | $24.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $636,250–$1.9M | $1M | $2.8M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $550–$1,665†‡ | $854†‡ | $82,433 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $680–$3,028† | $850† | $27,500 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $24.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $20.2M |
| Paintings | 2011 | $16.3M |
| Paintings | 2016 | $11M |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $1M |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $595,608 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $507,571 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $224,787 |

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 Max Ernst worth?

Across 2,401 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Max Ernst work is $2,400. The median Max Ernst print sells for $1,085 across 1,253 lots. The median Max Ernst painting sells for $191,889 across 357 lots. The median Max Ernst work on paper sells for $18,900 across 240 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Max Ernst prints typically sell for $681–$2,164 (the middle half of 924 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Max Ernst prints typically sell for $559–$1,677 (the middle half of 266 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 Max Ernst print?

Based on 1,253 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Ernst print is $1,085. 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 Max Ernst's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Ernst print is $1,000,497.

### What is the average price of a Max Ernst painting?

Based on 357 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Ernst painting is $191,889. 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 Max Ernst's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Ernst painting is $16,322,500.

### What is the average price of a Max Ernst work on paper?

Based on 240 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Ernst work on paper is $18,900. 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 Max Ernst's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Ernst work on paper is $595,608.

### What is the average price of a small Max Ernst print?

Based on 924 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Max Ernst print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,136, 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 Max Ernst print?

Based on 266 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Max Ernst print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $952, 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 Max Ernst's auction record?

Max Ernst's auction record is $24,435,000, set in 2022.

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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, “Max Ernst auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/max-ernst (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.