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

# Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)

## What is Utagawa Kunisada’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 822 auction results for Utagawa Kunisada at 78 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $470 including buyer’s premium (middle half $183–$3,040, n=91). The auction record is $35,000 for Kanshojo (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Actors Ichikawa Danjuro VII and Ichikawa Ebijuro I in the roles of Takechi Samanosuke and Toranosuke Masakiyo, 1820 | Woodblock print | $32,165 | Sotheby's | Jun 2025 |
| 2 | Enshi goju yojo (Amorous Murasaki finds pleasure in fifty-some chapters ), 1835 | Woodblock-printed illustrated book; 3 volumes with white paper covers, orange title slips and | $28,000 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 3 | Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) | Fan prints (uchiwa-e) | $25,000 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 4 | The first: A woman modelling new fashion; a kimono patterned with cuckoos in flight accross the moon (Atsurae zome bijo no shingata). The second: Yosooi of the Matsubaya, kamuro Nioi & Tomeki, from the series Comparison of Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase) | Print | $24,032 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 5 | Shunka shuto shiki no nagame (In praise of love in four seasons), 1786 | Woodblock-printed illustrated books embellished with metallic pigments and embossing; Spring and Summer vols in orange paper covers with blue slips, Autumn and Winter vols in green and orange paper cover with purple slips; signed | $24,000 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 6 | Shokunin (Artisans), 1857 | Woodblock print triptych, from the series | $20,160 | Christie's | Sep 2024 |
| 7 | Two Actors Fighting at Night, 1786 | Woodblock print | $19,171 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 8 | The courtesans Hanaogi from the Ogiya house, Hanamurasaki from the Tamaya house and Yosoi from the Matsubaya house (Ogiya uchi Hanaogi, Tamaya uchi Hanamurasaki, Matsubaya uchi Yosoi), 1830 | Woodblock print | $16,696 | Sotheby's | Mar 2022 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanshojo, 1786 | Woodcuts | $35,000 | Christie's | Mar 2019 |
| 2 | Kan Shojo, 1786 | Woodcuts | $20,160 | Christie's | Mar 2025 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 297 | $629 |
| Works on paper | 37 | $554 |
| Prints | 41 | $348 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 278 | $724 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 32 | $308 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 822 results from 78 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Utagawa Kunisada is a Japanese artist with 1,254 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $252. 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 Utagawa Kunisada sold in 2026 for $278, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 Utagawa Kunisada works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Utagawa Kunisada on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/utagawa-kunisada?ref=kg:utagawa-kunisada) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Utagawa Kunisada work worth?

Across 771 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utagawa Kunisada work is $252.

The median Utagawa Kunisada print sells for $238 across 643 lots.

The median Utagawa Kunisada work on paper sells for $870 across 38 lots.

The median Utagawa Kunisada sculpture sells for $446 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $125–$797 (the middle half of 483 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $146–$363 (the middle half of 47 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 | 918 | $238†‡ | $35,000 | 70% | 2026-10-29 |
| Works on Paper | 39 | $870†‡ | $8,820 | 97.4% | 2025-06-13 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $446‡ | $446‡ | — | 2014-05-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 40 | $10,089‡ | $35,000 | — | 2026-06-10 |

† 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) | 483 | $125–$797†‡ | $227†‡ | $35,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 47 | $146–$363†‡ | $208†‡ | $4,007 |

† 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) | 9 | $485–$4,782† | $1,521† | $5,740 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $35,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $32,165 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $8,820 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $5,740 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $446‡ |

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

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 Utagawa Kunisada worth?

Across 771 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utagawa Kunisada work is $252. The median Utagawa Kunisada print sells for $238 across 643 lots. The median Utagawa Kunisada work on paper sells for $870 across 38 lots. The median Utagawa Kunisada sculpture sells for $446 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $125–$797 (the middle half of 483 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $146–$363 (the middle half of 47 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 Utagawa Kunisada print?

Based on 643 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utagawa Kunisada print is $238. 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 Utagawa Kunisada's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Utagawa Kunisada print is $35,000.

### What is the average price of a Utagawa Kunisada work on paper?

Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utagawa Kunisada work on paper is $870. 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 Utagawa Kunisada's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Utagawa Kunisada work on paper is $8,820.

### What is the average price of a small Utagawa Kunisada print?

Based on 483 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Utagawa Kunisada print (small (under 50 cm)) is $227, 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 Utagawa Kunisada print?

Based on 47 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Utagawa Kunisada print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $208, 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 Utagawa Kunisada's auction record?

Utagawa Kunisada's auction record is $35,000, 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, “Utagawa Kunisada auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/utagawa-kunisada (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.