William Gropper (1897–1977)
What is William Gropper’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 150 auction results for William Gropper at 29 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,875 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,204–$3,526, n=15). The auction record is $33,237 for Tycoon (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tycoon, 1954 | Oil paint | $33,237 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 2 | Opera Patrons, 1971 | Oil paint | $28,705 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 3 | Foreign Delegates Ordering a Meal, 1946 | Oil paint | $28,680 | Christie's | Mar 2004 |
| 4 | On the Floor No. 2, 1940 | Oil paint | $20,160 | Christie's | Apr 2023 |
| 5 | The Old Tycoon | Oil on canvas | $18,000 | Sotheby's | Mar 2007 |
| 6 | Night Life, 1897 | Oil on canvas | $11,875 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 7 | The Hearing, 1897 | Oil paint | $11,875 | Christie's | Feb 2013 |
| 8 | The Committee Chairman, 1960 | Painting | $10,620 | Wright | Nov 2003 |
| 9 | Farm Hand, 1940 | Oil on canvas | $10,240 | Sotheby's | Oct 2026 |
| 10 | Keep Him on the Run/Buy More Bonds. | Oil on canvas | $8,125 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 39 | $4,064 |
| Works on paper | 28 | $918 |
| Prints | 50 | $460 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 31 | $1,875 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 65 | $750 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 150 results from 29 houses · How we compute these figures
William Gropper is an American artist with 209 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $750. 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 Gropper sold in 2026 for $10,240, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Gropper record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Gropper on OpeningBid →What is a William Gropper work worth?
Across 142 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Gropper work is $750.
The median William Gropper print sells for $350 across 60 lots.
The median William Gropper painting sells for $3,750 across 41 lots.
The median William Gropper work on paper sells for $826 across 34 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William Gropper prints typically sell for $150–$692 (the middle half of 40 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) William Gropper work on papers typically sell for $523–$1,113 (the middle half of 24 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 | 77 | $350†‡ | $3,600 | 77.9% | 2025-10-23 |
| Paintings | 48 | $3,750† | $56,250 | 85.4% | 2026-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 38 | $826† | $4,800 | 89.5% | 2026-08-28 |
| Photography | 1 | $605 | $605 | — | 1993-12-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $24,420 | $56,250 | — | 2023-04-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Gropper's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (77 lots) median $350 with 77.9% sell-through. Paintings (48 lots) median $3,750, record $56,250. A typical William Gropper painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $24,420.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $150–$692†‡ | $284†‡ | $3,600 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $1,762–$5,000† | $3,401† | $28,680 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 22 | $1,736–$7,969† | $3,125† | $33,237 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $7,554–$11,875 | $10,240 | $56,250 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $523–$1,113† | $826† | $4,800 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $386–$1,906† | $818† | $2,400 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2012 | $56,250 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $33,237 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $4,800 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $4,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $3,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $3,600 |
| Photography | 1993 | $605 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Gropper worth?
Across 142 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Gropper work is $750. The median William Gropper print sells for $350 across 60 lots. The median William Gropper painting sells for $3,750 across 41 lots. The median William Gropper work on paper sells for $826 across 34 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Gropper prints typically sell for $150–$692 (the middle half of 40 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Gropper work on papers typically sell for $523–$1,113 (the middle half of 24 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 Gropper print?
Based on 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Gropper print is $350. 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 Gropper's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Gropper print is $3,600.
What is the average price of a William Gropper painting?
Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Gropper painting is $3,750. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Gropper's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Gropper painting is $56,250.
What is the average price of a William Gropper work on paper?
Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Gropper work on paper is $826. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Gropper's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Gropper work on paper is $4,800.
What is the average price of a small William Gropper print?
Based on 40 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Gropper print (small (under 50 cm)) is $284, 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 small William Gropper work on paper?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Gropper work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $826, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Gropper's auction record?
William Gropper's auction record is $56,250, set in 2012.
See the full William Gropper record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Gropper on OpeningBid →