William Eugene Smith (1918–1978)
What is William Eugene Smith’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 87 auction results for William Eugene Smith at 15 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,500 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,015–$2,063, n=7). The auction record is $47,500 for The Walk to Paradise Garden (2018, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Walk to Paradise Garden, 1948 | Silver print | $47,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2018 |
| 2 | Walk to Paradise Garden., 1946 | Ferrotyped silver print | $16,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2013 |
| 3 | Alert Soldier, Saipan, 1944 | Silver print | $13,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2015 |
| 4 | Saipan (two soldiers), 1944 | Silver print | $11,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2023 |
| 5 | Albert Schweitzer, 1954 | Silver print | $7,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2005 |
| 6 | The Spinner, Spanish Village, 1951 | Silver print | $7,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2018 |
| 7 | Pride Street, from the Pittsburgh series, 1955-1956 | Silver print | $6,760 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2017 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert Schweitzer, 1949 | Silver print | $10,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2013 |
| 2 | Albert Schweitzer, 1949 | Silver print | $9,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2007 |
| 3 | Welsh Miners, 1950 | Silver print | $6,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2010 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 12 | $2,750 |
| Photographs | 63 | $2,400 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 68 | $2,500 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 87 results from 15 houses · How we compute these figures
William Eugene Smith is an American artist with 143 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,210. 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 William Eugene Smith sold in 2025 for $3,810, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Eugene Smith record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Eugene Smith on OpeningBid →What is a William Eugene Smith work worth?
Across 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Eugene Smith work is $2,210.
The median William Eugene Smith photograph sells for $2,305 across 84 lots.
The median William Eugene Smith print sells for $1,875 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William Eugene Smith photographs typically sell for $1,217–$4,000 (the middle half of 78 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 | 1 | $1,875 | $1,875 | — | 2012-04-04 |
| Photography | 130 | $2,305†‡ | $47,500 | 64.6% | 2026-06-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $13,750 | $47,500 | — | 2023-04-27 |
† 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) | 78 | $1,217–$4,000†‡ | $2,500†‡ | $47,500 |
† 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 | 2018 | $47,500 |
| Photography | 2013 | $16,800 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $1,875 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Eugene Smith worth?
Across 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Eugene Smith work is $2,210. The median William Eugene Smith photograph sells for $2,305 across 84 lots. The median William Eugene Smith print sells for $1,875 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Eugene Smith photographs typically sell for $1,217–$4,000 (the middle half of 78 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 William Eugene Smith photograph?
Based on 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Eugene Smith photograph is $2,305. 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 William Eugene Smith's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Eugene Smith photograph is $47,500.
What is the average price of a small William Eugene Smith photograph?
Based on 78 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Eugene Smith photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,500, 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 William Eugene Smith's auction record?
William Eugene Smith's auction record is $47,500, set in 2018.
See the full William Eugene Smith record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Eugene Smith on OpeningBid →