René Burri (1933–2014)
What is René Burri’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 146 auction results for René Burri at 27 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,369 including buyer’s premium (middle half $675–$2,423, n=9). The auction record is $34,318 for São Paulo, Brazil (2016, Phillips). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Paulo, Brazil, 1960 | Gelatin silver print, printed 2012 | $34,318 | Phillips | Nov 2016 |
| 2 | Ernesto Che Guevara, Havana, Cuba, 1963 | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $20,103 | Phillips | May 2016 |
| 3 | São Paulo, Brazil, 2003 | Gelatin silver print, printed 2003 | $18,923 | Phillips | Nov 2015 |
| 4 | Rio de Janeiro, Brésil, 1960, 1960 | Cartes-de-visite | $16,024 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 5 | Wilted Lotus Blossoms, former Summer Palace, Kunming Lake, Beijing, China, 1964 | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $15,888 | Phillips | May 2014 |
| 6 | São Paulo, Brazil, 1960 | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $15,534 | Phillips | May 2016 |
| 7 | In the Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Gelatin silver print, printed 2001 | $11,489 | Phillips | Nov 2017 |
| 8 | In the Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $11,354 | Phillips | Nov 2015 |
| 9 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | Gelatin silver print, printed later | $10,498 | Phillips | Nov 2018 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilted Lotus Blossoms, 1964 | Gelatin silver print, printed 2001 | $10,663 | Phillips | May 2013 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 95 | $3,400 |
| Other | 9 | $2,930 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 23 | $7,284 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 71 | $3,050 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 146 results from 27 houses · How we compute these figures
René Burri is a Swiss artist with 193 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $2,562. 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 René Burri sold in 2026 for $5,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 René Burri work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow René Burri free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full René Burri record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View René Burri on OpeningBid →What is a René Burri work worth?
Across 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a René Burri work is $2,562.
The median René Burri photograph sells for $2,930 across 133 lots.
The median René Burri print sells for $743 across 5 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) René Burri photographs typically sell for $1,434–$5,936 (the middle half of 99 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) René Burri photographs typically sell for $2,416–$8,740 (the middle half of 25 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 | 6 | $743† | $2,667† | 83.3% | 2025-06-25 |
| Photography | 159 | $2,930†‡ | $34,318 | 83.6% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $15,956 | $34,318 | — | 2017-11-10 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 99 | $1,434–$5,936†‡ | $2,592†‡ | $16,024 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $2,416–$8,740†‡ | $5,827†‡ | $20,103 |
† 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 | 2016 | $34,318 |
| Photography | 2016 | $20,103 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $2,667† |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $1,071 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a René Burri worth?
Across 146 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a René Burri work is $2,562. The median René Burri photograph sells for $2,930 across 133 lots. The median René Burri print sells for $743 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) René Burri photographs typically sell for $1,434–$5,936 (the middle half of 99 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) René Burri photographs typically sell for $2,416–$8,740 (the middle half of 25 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 René Burri photograph?
Based on 133 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a René Burri photograph is $2,930. 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 René Burri's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a René Burri photograph is $34,318.
What is the average price of a small René Burri photograph?
Based on 99 sold lots, the median auction price of a small René Burri photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,592, 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 René Burri photograph?
Based on 25 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium René Burri photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,827, 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 René Burri's auction record?
René Burri's auction record is $34,318, set in 2016.
See the full René Burri record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View René Burri on OpeningBid →