Robert Doisneau (1912–1994)
What is Robert Doisneau’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 819 auction results for Robert Doisneau at 55 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,366 including buyer’s premium (middle half $591–$2,430, n=56). The auction record is $51,486 for Le Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville, Paris 4 e (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville, Paris 4 e, 1950 | Elixir of Life: Photographs from The Olbricht Collection | $51,486 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | Selected images, 1945-1957, 1983 | 15 gelatin silver prints, printed c. 1983 | $51,469 | Christie's | Apr 2006 |
| 3 | SELECTED IMAGES | — | $48,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2007 |
| 4 | Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville, Paris 4e, 1960 | Gelatin silver print, printed c.1960 | $46,367 | Christie's | Oct 2005 |
| 5 | La Vitrine, 1990 | 6 gelatin silver prints, printed 1990 | $37,937 | Christie's | Oct 2005 |
| 6 | selected images | A group of 15 photographs, including 'Le Manége de Monsieur Barre,' 'Un Regard Oblique,' 'La Derniére Valse du 14 Juillet,' 'L'Enfer,' 'La Dame Indignée,' 'Les Enfants de la Place Herbert,' and others, each signed by the photographer in ink in the margin, titled and dated by him in ink on the reverse, 1945-58, printed later (Three Seconds from Eternity, pp. 46, 66, 67, 69, 81, 130, 139, and 143; Doisneau Paris, pp. 189, 267, 363, 490, and 493; Retrospective, contents page and pls. 6, 7, 65, and 67) (15) | $37,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2008 |
| 7 | Selected images, 1945-1957, 1983 | Gelatin silver prints | $31,200 | Christie's | Feb 2006 |
| 8 | Les Pains de Picasso, 1952/1980 | Gelatin silver print | $29,632 | Karl & Faber | Apr 2022 |
| 9 | Selected images, 1945-1957, 1983 | Gelatin silver prints | $28,800 | Christie's | Oct 2005 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A portfolio entitled Robert Doisneau, 1979 | Silver prints | $37,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2020 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 54 | $2,840 |
| Other | 79 | $2,400 |
| Photographs | 510 | $1,875 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 534 | $2,210 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 6 | $1,108 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 819 results from 55 houses · How we compute these figures
Robert Doisneau is a French artist with 1,215 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,840. 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 Robert Doisneau sold in 2026 for $3,302, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
5 Robert Doisneau works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Robert Doisneau free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Robert Doisneau record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Doisneau on OpeningBid →What is a Robert Doisneau work worth?
Across 801 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Doisneau work is $1,840.
The median Robert Doisneau photograph sells for $1,831 across 746 lots.
The median Robert Doisneau print sells for $1,116 across 14 lots.
The median Robert Doisneau work on paper sells for $3,932 across 9 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Robert Doisneau photographs typically sell for $921–$3,999 (the middle half of 646 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 | 15 | $1,116‡ | $3,302 | 93.3% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $3,932 | $9,750 | — | 2025-02-13 |
| Photography | 915 | $1,831†‡ | $208,989 | 81.5% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 41 | $18,750‡ | $208,989 | — | 2026-04-30 |
† 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) | 6 | $715–$1,879‡ | $1,240‡ | $3,302 |
‡ 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) | 5 | $3,120–$9,012 | $5,384 | $9,750 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 646 | $921–$3,999†‡ | $2,000†‡ | $68,332 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,020–$8,288† | $2,490† | $208,989 |
† 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 | 2014 | $208,989 |
| Photography | 2008 | $68,332 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $9,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $9,012 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $3,302 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $2,040 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Robert Doisneau worth?
Across 801 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Doisneau work is $1,840. The median Robert Doisneau photograph sells for $1,831 across 746 lots. The median Robert Doisneau print sells for $1,116 across 14 lots. The median Robert Doisneau work on paper sells for $3,932 across 9 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Robert Doisneau photographs typically sell for $921–$3,999 (the middle half of 646 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 Robert Doisneau photograph?
Based on 746 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Doisneau photograph is $1,831. 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 Robert Doisneau's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Doisneau photograph is $208,989.
What is the average price of a Robert Doisneau print?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Doisneau print is $1,116. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Robert Doisneau's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Doisneau print is $3,302.
What is the average price of a small Robert Doisneau photograph?
Based on 646 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Robert Doisneau photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,000, 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 Robert Doisneau's auction record?
Robert Doisneau's auction record is $208,989, set in 2014.
See the full Robert Doisneau record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Doisneau on OpeningBid →