Wols (1913–1951)
What is Wols’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 134 auction results for Wols at 27 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $58,138 including buyer’s premium (middle half $33,934–$111,208, n=11). The auction record is $2,353,882 for Le feu (The Fire) (2012, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le feu (The Fire), 1947-1949 | Oil paint | $2,353,882 | Christie's | Feb 2012 |
| 2 | La flamme | Huile sur toile | $2,191,096 | Sotheby's | Jun 2011 |
| 3 | L'Œil de Dieu, 1948-49 | Oil paint | $2,174,347 | Sotheby's | Oct 2025 |
| 4 | L'Inachevée, 1951 | Oil paint | $1,811,487 | Christie's | Jun 2012 |
| 5 | Les Tâches Rouges | Oil on canvas | $1,661,872 | Sotheby's | Mar 2018 |
| 6 | La Turquoise |《綠松石》, 1946 | Oil paint | $1,513,851 | Sotheby's | Mar 2021 |
| 7 | Terre de Sienne, circa 1946 | Huile et grattage sur toile | $1,077,961 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 8 | 無題 (油彩畫布), 1946 | Oil on canvas | $566,080 | Sotheby's | Jun 2023 |
| 9 | Le Tourbillon | Huile sur toile | $470,968 | Sotheby's | Jun 2015 |
| 10 | Les deux fourchettes | Ink, watercolour and gouache on paper | $261,011 | Sotheby's | Oct 2018 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $1,077,961 |
| Other | 9 | $58,138 |
| Works on paper | 59 | $38,156 |
| Photographs | 6 | $19,831 |
| Prints | 5 | $279 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $1,077,961 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 79 | $34,996 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 134 results from 27 houses · How we compute these figures
Wols is a German artist with 178 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $21,831. 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 Wols sold in 2026 for $58,138, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Wols record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wols on OpeningBid →What is a Wols work worth?
Across 133 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wols work is $21,831.
The median Wols work on paper sells for $37,595 across 65 lots.
The median Wols print sells for $359 across 29 lots.
The median Wols photograph sells for $744 across 16 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Wols work on papers typically sell for $21,654–$69,897 (the middle half of 64 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Wols prints typically sell for $304–$1,206 (the middle half of 23 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 | 42 | $359†‡ | $7,396 | 69% | 2026-01-20 |
| Paintings | 15 | $822,020‡ | $2.4M | 93.3% | 2025-10-24 |
| Works on Paper | 75 | $37,595†‡ | $261,011 | 86.7% | 2026-09-30 |
| Photography | 28 | $744†‡ | $101,728 | 57.1% | 2023-11-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $246,259 | $2.4M | — | 2025-10-24 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Wols's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (42 lots) median $359 with 69% sell-through. Paintings (15 lots) median $822,020, record $2,353,882. A typical Wols painting sells for around 2,287× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 20 lots) the median is $246,259.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $304–$1,206†‡ | $355†‡ | $7,396 |
† 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) | 6 | $35,764–$1.4M | $261,603 | $2.2M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1.1M–$2.2M | $1.5M | $2.4M |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $21,654–$69,897†‡ | $36,295†‡ | $261,011 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $415–$8,955†‡ | $1,003†‡ | $101,728 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2012 | $2.4M |
| Paintings | 2011 | $2.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $261,011 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $231,507 |
| Photography | 2015 | $101,728 |
| Photography | 2017 | $30,592 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $3,770‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $2,870 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Wols worth?
Across 133 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wols work is $21,831. The median Wols work on paper sells for $37,595 across 65 lots. The median Wols print sells for $359 across 29 lots. The median Wols photograph sells for $744 across 16 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Wols work on papers typically sell for $21,654–$69,897 (the middle half of 64 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Wols prints typically sell for $304–$1,206 (the middle half of 23 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 Wols work on paper?
Based on 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wols work on paper is $37,595. 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 Wols's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wols work on paper is $261,011.
What is the average price of a Wols print?
Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wols print is $359. 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 Wols's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wols print is $7,396.
What is the average price of a Wols photograph?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wols photograph is $744. 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 Wols's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wols photograph is $101,728.
What is the average price of a small Wols work on paper?
Based on 64 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wols work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $36,295, 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 Wols print?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wols print (small (under 50 cm)) is $355, 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 Wols's auction record?
Wols's auction record is $2,353,882, set in 2012.
See the full Wols record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wols on OpeningBid →