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

# René Magritte (1898–1967)

## What is René Magritte’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,220 auction results for René Magritte at 73 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $276,661 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,992–$1,552,795, n=113). The auction record is $79,209,372 for L’empire des lumières (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L’empire des lumières, 1961 | Oil on canvas | $79,209,372 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |
| 2 | L'ami intime, 1898 | Oil paint | $42,919,494 | Christie's | Mar 2024 |
| 3 | L'Empire des lumières, 1951 | Oil paint | $42,273,000 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 4 | A la rencontre du plaisir, 1898 | — | $24,715,398 | Christie's | Feb 2020 |
| 5 | La Belle promenade, 1965 | Gouache on paper | $21,103,348 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 6 | L’empire des lumières, 1949 | Oil paint | $20,562,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 7 | Souvenir de voyage, 1962 | Oil paint | $19,679,415 | Christie's | Jun 2022 |
| 8 | Le seize septembre, 1957 | Oil paint | $19,570,000 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 9 | Le Domaine d’Arnheim, 1949 | Oil paint | $18,948,300 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 10 | Le Banquet, 1955 | Oil on canvas | $18,144,000 | Sotheby's | May 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 214 | $1,963,435 |
| Sculpture | 13 | $882,000 |
| Works on paper | 294 | $387,653 |
| Other | 117 | $26,613 |
| Prints | 350 | $3,154 |
| Photographs | 14 | $2,687 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 26 | $5,437,494 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 280 | $610,756 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 627 | $15,681 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,220 results from 73 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


René Magritte is a Belgian artist with 1,481 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $13,640. 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 Magritte sold in 2026 for $315,195, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**22 René Magritte works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [René Magritte on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/rene-magritte?ref=kg:rene-magritte) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a René Magritte work worth?

Across 1,196 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a René Magritte work is $13,640.

The median René Magritte print sells for $2,500 across 513 lots.

The median René Magritte work on paper sells for $291,002 across 316 lots.

The median René Magritte painting sells for $2,018,654 across 232 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) René Magritte prints typically sell for $1,718–$5,205 (the middle half of 351 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) René Magritte work on papers typically sell for $23,660–$962,500 (the middle half of 287 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 | 595 | $2,500†‡ | $102,802 | 86.2% | 2026-10-09 |
| Paintings | 242 | $2M†‡ | $79.2M | 95.9% | 2026-05-11 |
| Works on Paper | 339 | $291,002†‡ | $21.1M | 93.2% | 2026-09-17 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 16 | $882,000 | $2.7M | 81.3% | 2025-09-17 |
| Photography | 30 | $474† | $1.2M | 73.3% | 2026-04-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 481 | $1.1M†‡ | $79.2M | — | 2026-10-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

René Magritte's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (595 lots) median $2,500 with 86.2% sell-through. Paintings (242 lots) median $2,018,654, record $79,209,372. A typical René Magritte painting sells for around 807× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 481 lots) the median is $1,106,043.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 351 | $1,718–$5,205†‡ | $3,000†‡ | $92,166 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 141 | $579–$2,935†‡ | $1,375†‡ | $102,802 |

† 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) | 45 | $672,500–$2.5M‡ | $1.1M‡ | $19.7M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 155 | $780,413–$5M† | $2.1M† | $42.9M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $4.6M–$13.8M | $6.9M | $79.2M |

† 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) | 287 | $23,660–$962,500†‡ | $273,702†‡ | $21.1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $543,442–$1.4M | $937,397 | $2.7M |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $610,513–$882,000 | $866,454 | $2.2M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $1.5M–$2.7M | $1.9M | $2.7M |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $296–$3,276† | $588† | $1.2M |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $79.2M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $42.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $21.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $7.4M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $2.7M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $2.7M |
| Photography | 2025 | $1.2M |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $102,802 |

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 René Magritte worth?

Across 1,196 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a René Magritte work is $13,640. The median René Magritte print sells for $2,500 across 513 lots. The median René Magritte work on paper sells for $291,002 across 316 lots. The median René Magritte painting sells for $2,018,654 across 232 lots. Small (under 50 cm) René Magritte prints typically sell for $1,718–$5,205 (the middle half of 351 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) René Magritte work on papers typically sell for $23,660–$962,500 (the middle half of 287 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 Magritte print?

Based on 513 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a René Magritte print is $2,500. 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 Magritte's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a René Magritte print is $102,802.

### What is the average price of a René Magritte work on paper?

Based on 316 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a René Magritte work on paper is $291,002. 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 Magritte's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a René Magritte work on paper is $21,103,348.

### What is the average price of a René Magritte painting?

Based on 232 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a René Magritte painting is $2,018,654. 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 Magritte's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a René Magritte painting is $79,209,372.

### What is the average price of a small René Magritte print?

Based on 351 sold lots, the median auction price of a small René Magritte print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,000, 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 René Magritte work on paper?

Based on 287 sold lots, the median auction price of a small René Magritte work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $273,702, 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 Magritte's auction record?

René Magritte's auction record is $79,209,372, 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, “René Magritte auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/rene-magritte (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.