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

# Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 572 auction results for Utagawa Kuniyoshi at 57 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $671 including buyer’s premium (middle half $152–$3,556, n=85). The auction record is $239,642 for Miyamoto no Musashi Attacking the Giant Whale (2018, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miyamoto no Musashi Attacking the Giant Whale, 1797 | Woodblock print | $239,642 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 2 | The Ghosts of the Taira Attack Yoshitsune in Daimotsu Bay, 1797 | Woodblock triptych, embellished with mica and gofun | $107,317 | Christie's | Jul 2018 |
| 3 | Soma no furudairi ni Masakado himegimi Takiyasha yojutsu o motte mikata o atsumuru (In the ruined palace of [Taira] Masakado at Soma his daughter Princess Takiyasha uses sorcery to summon allies [the monster skeleton]), 1797 | Woodblock print | $100,000 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |
| 4 | Soma no furudairi ni Masakado himegimi Takiyasha yojutsu o motte mikata o atsumuru (In the ruined palace of [Taira] Masakado at Soma his daughter Princess Takiyasha uses sorcery to summon allies [the monster skeleton]), 1844 | Woodblock print | $100,000 | Christie's | Sep 2021 |
| 5 | Sanuki no in kenzoku o shite Tametomo o sukuu zu (Picture of Retired Emperor Sanuki sending allies [tengu] to rescue Tametomo), 1798 | Woodblock print | $65,000 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ghosts of the Taira Attack Yoshitsune in Daimotsu Bay | Woodblock triptych, embellished with mica and gofun | $107,729 | Christie's | Jul 2018 |
| 2 | Goldfish, Killifish, Stingray and Puffer Fish, 1837 | Woodcuts | $87,500 | Christie's | Sep 2021 |
| 3 | Boy's day decoration with Danjuro as The Demon Queller Shoki, 1849 | Woodcuts | $60,480 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 4 | Sanuki no in kenzoku o shite Tametomo o sukuu zu (Picture of Retired Emperor Sanuki sending allies [tengu] to rescue Tametomo), 1798 | Woodblock print | $60,480 | Christie's | Sep 2024 |
| 5 | Sanuki no in kenzoku o shite Tametomo o sukuu zu (Picture of Retired Emperor Sanuki sending allies [tengu] to rescue Tametomo), 1851 | Woodblock print | $56,700 | Christie's | Sep 2024 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 60 | $10,072 |
| Other | 383 | $3,024 |
| Works on paper | 48 | $1,363 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 328 | $3,785 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 38 | $1,591 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 572 results from 57 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Utagawa Kuniyoshi is a Japanese artist with 716 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $2,630. 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 Kuniyoshi sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $7,396 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

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

## What is a Utagawa Kuniyoshi work worth?

Across 553 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utagawa Kuniyoshi work is $2,630.

The median Utagawa Kuniyoshi print sells for $2,146 across 407 lots.

The median Utagawa Kuniyoshi work on paper sells for $3,589 across 79 lots.

The median Utagawa Kuniyoshi painting sells for $3,076 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Utagawa Kuniyoshi prints typically sell for $343–$9,132 (the middle half of 315 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Utagawa Kuniyoshi prints typically sell for $338–$8,014 (the middle half of 31 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 | 443 | $2,146†‡ | $239,642 | 91.9% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 2 | $3,076 | $4,600 | — | 2019-11-07 |
| Works on Paper | 80 | $3,589 | $24,989 | — | 2025-06-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 28 | $50,200 | $239,642 | — | 2026-03-31 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Utagawa Kuniyoshi's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (443 lots) median $2,146 with 91.9% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $3,076, record $4,600. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 28 lots) the median is $50,200.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 315 | $343–$9,132†‡ | $2,894†‡ | $239,642 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 31 | $338–$8,014†‡ | $1,211†‡ | $60,480 |

† 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 | $598–$5,000 | $3,786 | $13,961 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $239,642 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $107,317 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $24,989 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $19,728 |
| Paintings | 1998 | $4,600 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $1,552 |

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 Kuniyoshi worth?

Across 553 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utagawa Kuniyoshi work is $2,630. The median Utagawa Kuniyoshi print sells for $2,146 across 407 lots. The median Utagawa Kuniyoshi work on paper sells for $3,589 across 79 lots. The median Utagawa Kuniyoshi painting sells for $3,076 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Utagawa Kuniyoshi prints typically sell for $343–$9,132 (the middle half of 315 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Utagawa Kuniyoshi prints typically sell for $338–$8,014 (the middle half of 31 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 Kuniyoshi print?

Based on 407 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utagawa Kuniyoshi print is $2,146. 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 Kuniyoshi's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Utagawa Kuniyoshi print is $239,642.

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

Based on 79 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utagawa Kuniyoshi work on paper is $3,589.

### What is Utagawa Kuniyoshi's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Utagawa Kuniyoshi work on paper is $24,989.

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

Based on 315 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Utagawa Kuniyoshi print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,894, 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 Kuniyoshi print?

Based on 31 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Utagawa Kuniyoshi print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,211, 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 Kuniyoshi's auction record?

Utagawa Kuniyoshi's auction record is $239,642, set in 2018.

---

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 Kuniyoshi auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/utagawa-kuniyoshi (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.