> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-eugene-smith · updated 2026-11-02

# William Eugene Smith (1918–1978)

## What is William Eugene Smith’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | 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 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 12 | $2,750 |
| Photographs | 63 | $2,400 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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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, “William Eugene Smith auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-eugene-smith (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.