> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yan-wenliang-2 · updated 2026-11-02

# Yan Wenliang (1893–1988)

## What is Yan Wenliang’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 81 auction results for Yan Wenliang at 11 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,482 including buyer’s premium (middle half $416–$40,372, n=8). The auction record is $6,379,772 for Night Moon (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Night Moon, 1950 | Oil on board | $6,379,772 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 2 | Seventeen Arches Bridge, 1950 | Oil on board | $4,623,872 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 3 | 初晨雪景, 1970 | — | $196,001 | Duoyunxuan Auction (上海朵云轩拍卖) | Dec 2025 |
| 4 | 西郊公园傍晚, 1958年作 | 布面油画 | $194,726 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2015 |
| 5 | West Lake Landscapes, 1920 | 纸本 水彩 | $190,976 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | May 2024 |
| 6 | 冬日朝阳, 1979 | — | $140,425 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2016 |
| 7 | 乡间道, 1950 | — | $125,590 | Guangzhou Huayi International Auction (Holly's) | Jun 2021 |
| 8 | Zhongshan Park, 1954 | 木板 油画 | $76,390 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | May 2024 |
| 9 | 晨曦 | 布面 油画 | $73,793 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2010 |
| 10 | 寒林雪霁, 1944 | Ink and brush on folding fan | $55,534 | Duoyunxuan Auction (上海朵云轩拍卖) | Dec 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $134,259 |
| Other | 8 | $100,990 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $57,153 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 81 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Yan Wenliang is a Chinese artist with 129 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $43,319. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Yan Wenliang sold in 2025 for $55,534, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Yan Wenliang work worth?

Across 81 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yan Wenliang work is $43,319.

The median Yan Wenliang painting sells for $76,390 across 30 lots.

The median Yan Wenliang work on paper sells for $21,954 across 8 lots.

The median Yan Wenliang print sells for $207 across 1 lots.

Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | $207‡ | $207‡ | — | 2025-03-14 |
| Paintings | 30 | $76,390‡ | $6.4M | — | 2025-03-26 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $21,954‡ | $190,976 | 88.9% | 2026-04-25 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | — | 2022-08-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $199,783‡ | $6.4M | — | 2025-12-19 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Yan Wenliang's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $207. Paintings (30 lots) median $76,390, record $6,379,772. A typical Yan Wenliang painting sells for around 369× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 14 lots) the median is $199,783.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $29,977–$310,542‡ | $59,373‡ | $6.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $25,276–$177,924‡ | $84,819‡ | $222,599‡ |

‡ 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 | 2016 | $6.4M |
| Paintings | 2016 | $4.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $190,976 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $55,534 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $207‡ |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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 Yan Wenliang worth?

Across 81 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yan Wenliang work is $43,319. The median Yan Wenliang painting sells for $76,390 across 30 lots. The median Yan Wenliang work on paper sells for $21,954 across 8 lots. The median Yan Wenliang print sells for $207 across 1 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a Yan Wenliang painting?

Based on 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yan Wenliang painting is $76,390. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yan Wenliang's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yan Wenliang painting is $6,379,772.

### What is the average price of a small Yan Wenliang painting?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Yan Wenliang painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $59,373, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yan Wenliang's auction record?

Yan Wenliang's auction record is $6,379,772, set in 2016.

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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, “Yan Wenliang auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yan-wenliang-2 (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.