Willy Ronis (1910–2009)
What is Willy Ronis’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 674 auction results for Willy Ronis at 36 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,175 including buyer’s premium (middle half $627–$2,717, n=64). The auction record is $203,868 for Vincent dormant - Paris, 1946 (2021, Artcurial). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vincent dormant - Paris, 1946, 1946 | Épreuve argentique sur papier Agfa (tirée par Willy Ronis en 1976), signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $203,868 | Artcurial | Dec 2021 |
| 2 | Carrefour Sèvres-Babylone, 1948 | Épreuve argentique, signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $30,013 | Artcurial | Dec 2021 |
| 3 | Le nu provençal - Gordes, été 1949, 1949 | Épreuve argentique, signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $21,961 | Artcurial | Dec 2021 |
| 4 | Le petit Parisien -Paris | Épreuve argentique signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $20,690 | Artcurial | Dec 2016 |
| 5 | Le nu provençal - Gordes, été 1949, 1949 | Épreuve argentique signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $19,310 | Artcurial | Dec 2016 |
| 6 | Le petit parisien, 1952 | Épreuve argentique, signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $19,033 | Artcurial | Dec 2021 |
| 7 | Place Vendôme, Paris, 1947 | Tirage argentique postérieur | $18,158 | Tajan | Jun 2016 |
| 8 | Fondamenta nuove - Venise, 1959, 1959 | Épreuve argentique signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $16,552 | Artcurial | Dec 2016 |
| 9 | Portfolio #1 "Paris", 1939 | Portfolio composé de dix (10) épreuves argentiques (c. 1990) | $16,552 | Artcurial | Dec 2016 |
| 10 | Carrefour Sèvres-Babylone - Paris, 1948, 1948 | Épreuve argentique signée à l'encre dans la marge inférieure à droite | $15,862 | Artcurial | Dec 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 28 | $3,854 |
| Other | 44 | $3,739 |
| Photographs | 530 | $2,069 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $11,739 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 38 | $2,196 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 515 | $2,069 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 674 results from 36 houses · How we compute these figures
Willy Ronis is a French artist with 975 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,069. 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 Willy Ronis sold in 2026 for $3,048, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Willy Ronis works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Willy Ronis free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Willy Ronis record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Willy Ronis on OpeningBid →What is a Willy Ronis work worth?
Across 670 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willy Ronis work is $2,069.
The median Willy Ronis photograph sells for $2,090 across 630 lots.
The median Willy Ronis work on paper sells for $3,959 across 10 lots.
The median Willy Ronis print sells for $1,905 across 3 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Willy Ronis photographs typically sell for $1,318–$3,302 (the middle half of 554 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Willy Ronis photographs typically sell for $1,464–$6,393 (the middle half of 38 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 | 4 | $1,905 | $3,048 | 75% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $3,959 | $14,252 | — | 2025-12-08 |
| Photography | 785 | $2,090†‡ | $203,868 | 80.3% | 2026-10-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 34 | $11,073‡ | $203,868 | — | 2026-10-07 |
† 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) | 554 | $1,318–$3,302†‡ | $2,069†‡ | $203,868 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 38 | $1,464–$6,393† | $2,196† | $30,013 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $11,034–$16,379 | $11,739 | $20,690 |
† 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 | 2021 | $203,868 |
| Photography | 2021 | $30,013 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $14,252 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $5,982 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $3,048 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1,905 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Willy Ronis worth?
Across 670 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Willy Ronis work is $2,069. The median Willy Ronis photograph sells for $2,090 across 630 lots. The median Willy Ronis work on paper sells for $3,959 across 10 lots. The median Willy Ronis print sells for $1,905 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Willy Ronis photographs typically sell for $1,318–$3,302 (the middle half of 554 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Willy Ronis photographs typically sell for $1,464–$6,393 (the middle half of 38 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 Willy Ronis photograph?
Based on 630 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Willy Ronis photograph is $2,090. 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 Willy Ronis's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Willy Ronis photograph is $203,868.
What is the average price of a small Willy Ronis photograph?
Based on 554 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Willy Ronis photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,069, 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 Willy Ronis photograph?
Based on 38 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Willy Ronis photograph (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,196, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Willy Ronis's auction record?
Willy Ronis's auction record is $203,868, set in 2021.
See the full Willy Ronis record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Willy Ronis on OpeningBid →