LIVE LOTS 17,750,525 HOUSES 866 UNSOLD RECORDED 4,679,484 UPDATED NIGHTLY
TheBasis.Art

American, 1917–2009

Irving Penn

Follow artist
1,559results on record
73%sell-through
$28,800median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$567,600record in our coverage

Drawn from 1,559 recorded results (1,372 sold · 187 passed) across 17 auction houses, 1998–2026. 21 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover

Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer method · log scale

$16K$32K$47K1998: $15K median, 17 sold1999: $11K median, 38 sold2000: $8.8K median, 9 sold2001: $10.0K median, 11 sold2002: $35K median, 43 sold2003: $15K median, 10 sold2004: $22K median, 30 sold2005: $35K median, 91 sold2006: $29K median, 131 sold2007: $31K median, 50 sold2008: $23K median, 38 sold2009: $20K median, 29 sold2010: $58K median, 23 sold2011: $48K median, 24 sold2012: $24K median, 33 sold2013: $36K median, 57 sold2014: $31K median, 108 sold2015: $23K median, 63 sold2016: $36K median, 54 sold2017: $44K median, 51 sold2018: $44K median, 70 sold2019: $35K median, 46 sold2020: $21K median, 37 sold2021: $48K median, 38 sold2022: $23K median, 49 sold2023: $21K median, 36 sold2024: $23K median, 45 sold2025: $36K median, 100 sold2026: $31K median, 31 sold19982005201220192026

Where does a value land in this market?

$

The same figure also answers the seller's question: which house clears a work like this, and for how much — expected proceeds by house, from the sell-through the rest of this page is built on.

$29K$64$568K

Every sold result for this market, low to high (log scale) — the dashed line is the median. Enter a value to see where it lands.

By medium where medium is recorded or stated in the catalog line

MediumResultsSell-throughMedian result (USD)
photography 972 87% $27,960
other 58 64% $22,860
ceramics & design 19 58% $23,220
prints 10 100% $23,500
sculpture 6 100% $19,515
painting 4 100% $8,066
works on paper 4 50% $31,090

Medium is recorded for 1,073 of 1,559 results (69%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.

Compared with Robert Mapplethorpe Irving Penn Robert Mapplethorpe

$16K$32K$47K1998: $7.5K median1999: $6.3K median2000: $7.6K median2001: $6.2K median2002: $9.7K median2003: $10K median2004: $9.6K median2005: $26K median2006: $11K median2007: $21K median2008: $12K median2009: $21K median2010: $16K median2011: $14K median2012: $10K median2013: $16K median2014: $19K median2015: $12K median2016: $18K median2017: $21K median2018: $19K median2019: $13K median2020: $15K median2021: $13K median2022: $18K median2023: $15K median2024: $12K median2025: $9.8K median2026: $22K median1998: $15K median1999: $11K median2000: $8.8K median2001: $10.0K median2002: $35K median2003: $15K median2004: $22K median2005: $35K median2006: $29K median2007: $31K median2008: $23K median2009: $20K median2010: $58K median2011: $48K median2012: $24K median2013: $36K median2014: $31K median2015: $23K median2016: $36K median2017: $44K median2018: $44K median2019: $35K median2020: $21K median2021: $48K median2022: $23K median2023: $21K median2024: $23K median2025: $36K median2026: $31K median19982005201220192026
MetricIrving PennRobert Mapplethorpe
Median result$28,800$15,000
Record price $567,600 $726,348
Results on record1,5591,490
Years active at auction 1998–2026 1998–2026

Related artists: Robert MapplethorpeHenri Cartier-bressonHelmut NewtonHorst P. Horst

Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method

73/ 100
  • Sell-through73%
  • Meets estimate61%
  • Market depth1,559 results

How readily and near-estimate this market clears — sell-through, estimate reliability, and depth, blended into one score. "Meets estimate" is the share of sold lots hammering at or above the low estimate, over catalogs that print a real appraisal: a house whose printed low is a starting bid would meet its estimate on every lot, so those lots are excluded from this term only — their prices and outcomes still count in the other two. Method →

Where this artist sells best

HouseResultsSell-throughMedianvs. estimate
Christie's 641 97% $28,944 —
Sotheby's 425 68% $28,576 0.88×
Phillips 364 77% $36,250 —
Heritage Auctions 46 70% $11,352 —
Bonhams 57 53% $10,240 0.76×
Grisebach 8 — $11,009 —
Lempertz 5 50% $20,696 —
Wright 8 38% $215 —
Artcurial 3 — $535 0.73×
Finarte 3 100% $2,634 0.84×
Rago 3 67% $14,075 —
SBI Art Auction 4 50% $11,781 —
Chiswick Auctions 1 100% $7,102 —
Lyon & Turnbull 1 — $6,988 3.20×
Stockholms Auktionsverk Fine Art 1 — $9,101 0.71×
Karlstad Hammarö Auktionsverk 1 — $64 0.95×
Freeman's | Hindman 1 0% — —

The same artist across every house we cover — hammer-vs-estimate side by side. A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal. Method →

Prices realized 1,593 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 187 passed lots

DateLotMediumvs. estimateEstimate USDResult USD, incl. premiumHouse
93 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass
2002·04 Poppy: Glowing Embers, New York, 1968 dye-transfer print, printed 1989 $80,000–$120,000 Christie's
2002·04 Black and White Vogue Cover (Jean Patchett), New York, 1950 gelatin silver print, printed 1984 $150,000–$250,000 Christie's
2002·04 Ballet Society, 1948 platinum-palladium print, printed 1972 $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
2002·04 Cigarettes, 1974 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
2002·04 Nude 58, 1949-1950 platinum-palladium print, printed 1976 $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
2002·04 Tambul Warrior (New Guinea), 1970 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1979 $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
2002·04 Plumber, New York, 1951 platinum-palladium print, printed 1976 $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
2002·04 Two Guedras, 1971 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1976 $40,000–$60,000 Christie's
2002·04 Charbonnier, Paris, 1950 platinum-palladium print, printed 1967 $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
2002·04 Three Asaro Mudmen (New Guinea), 1970 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1972 $40,000–$60,000 Christie's
2002·04 Marlene Dietrich, 1948 gelatin silver print $25,000–$35,000 Christie's
2002·04 Broadway Personalities, 1947 gelatin silver print $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
2002·04 New Guinea Man with Painted-On Glasses, 1970 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1979 $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
2002·04 Picasso (B), Cannes, 1957 gelatin silver print, printed 1984 $50,000–$70,000 Christie's
2002·04 Still Life with Grape and Moth, N.Y., 1976 gelatin silver print $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
2002·04 Warthog (Neg. 2A), 1986 gelatin silver print $12,000–$18,000 Christie's
2002·04 Alicia Markova, New York, 1946 gelatin silver print $8,000–$12,000 Christie's
2002·03 Eleanor $3,000–$5,000 Wright
2001·12 Two Guedras, Morocco $18,000–$24,000 Christie's
2001·12 Three Poppies, Arab Chief $9,000–$12,000 Christie's
2001·11 Mrs. William Rhinelander Stewart, New York $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
2001·11 Two Men in White Masks, Cuzco, Peru $8,000–$10,000 Christie's
2001·10 New York $6,000–$8,000 Christie's
2001·10 Patissiers, Paris $12,000–$18,000 Christie's
2001·05 Irving Penn $284–$426 Christie's
2001·04 Cigarette 8, New York $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
2001·04 Lavender Glory Poppy $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
2001·04 Nude 150 $8,000–$10,000 Christie's
2001·04 Cigarette 37, New York $25,000–$35,000 Christie's
2000·10 'Woman with Handkerchief (Jean Patchett)', New York, 1951, printed 1984 $4,348–$7,246 Christie's
2000·10 Nude #62 (1949-1950) $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
2000·10 Cigarette 17, New York (1972) $8,000–$10,000 Christie's
2000·04 Cigarette 34 (1972) $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
2000·04 Cottage Tulip: Sorbet, New York (1967) $9,000–$12,000 Christie's
2000·04 Single Oriental Poppy (1968) $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
2000·04 New York Cartoonists $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
2000·04 Nude #143 (1949-1950) $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
2000·04 New Guinea Man with Painted Glasses (1970) $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·12 20 Metal Pieces, 1980 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1981 $15,000–$25,000 Christie's
1999·12 Mermaid Dress (Rochas), Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, Vogue , 1950 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1979 $80,000–$120,000 Christie's
1999·12 Frozen Foods (New York), 1977 dye-transfer print, printed 1984 $40,000–$60,000 Christie's
1999·12 After Dinner Games, New York, 1947 dye-transfer print, printed 1985 $40,000–$60,000 Christie's
1999·12 Man with Pink Face, New Guinea, 1970 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1978 $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
1999·12 Optician's Shop Window (Version B), New York, 1939 gelatin silver print, printed 1983 $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
1999·12 Dewy Skin, New York, April 12, 2001 gelatin silver print, printed 2003 $15,000–$25,000 Christie's
1999·12 Bee on Lips, New York, September 22, 1995 dye-transfer print, printed 1999 $50,000–$70,000 Christie's
1999·12 Chanel Sequinned Suit, New York, 1974 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1979 $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
1999·12 Dahomey Children, 1967 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1969 $25,000–$35,000 Christie's
1999·12 Marlene Dietrich, December 1948 3 gelatin silver prints, possibly unique $60,000–$80,000 Christie's
1999·12 Gypsy Family, Estremadura, Spain, 1965 gelatin silver print $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
1999·12 Faucet Dripping Diamonds, New York, 1963 dye-transfer print, printed 1984 $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
1999·12 Italian Still Life, New York, Sept., 1981 dye-transfer print, printed 1984 $30,000–$50,000 Christie's
1999·12 Woman with Umbrella (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), New York $8,000–$10,000 Christie's
1999·12 Two Women Both With Nose Rings, Nepal $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·12 Cuzco Children, Peru (Neg Nos. 142, 254, 316) $20,000–$30,000 Christie's
1999·12 Scarred Dahomey Girl $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·12 Nude Bathing in Basin, New York $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·12 Mud Glove (Street Material IV), New York $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1999·12 Frozen Foods (With String Beans), New York $15,000–$25,000 Christie's
1999·10 3 New Guinea Men Painted White $8,341–$11,678 Christie's
1999·10 Vitrier, Paris (1950) $9,000–$12,000 Christie's
1999·10 Camel Pack, New York $8,000–$10,000 Christie's
1999·10 Three Women of Rissani, Morocco (1971) $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1999·10 Woman with Bare Back, New York (1961) $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
1999·10 Photograph of Self, N.Y. (1993) $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
1999·10 Mrs. William Rhinelander Stewart, New York $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·10 Rose, Colour Wonder (1970) $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·10 Italian Still Life, New York (1981) $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1999·10 Lisa Fonssagrives (1950s) $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
1999·06 Colette, Paris $2,000–$3,000 Christie's
1999·05 Spencer Tracy, New York $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·05 Aaron Copeland, New York $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
1999·04 Still Life with Shoe (1980) $3,000–$5,000 Christie's
1999·04 Farmer with a Large Basket and a Rope, Cuzco, Peru (1948) $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1999·04 Twisted Paper, New York $4,000–$6,000 Christie's
1999·04 Four Shoes, New York (1959) $3,000–$5,000 Christie's
1998·11 Butcher, London, 1950 platinum-palladium print, printed 1976 $15,000–$25,000 Christie's
1998·11 Deli Package (SM), Neg. V, 1975 platinum-palladium print, printed 1976 $12,000–$18,000 Christie's
1998·11 Augustus John, 1958 platinum-palladium print, printed 1976 $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1998·11 Schiaparelli Jacket with Tinsel and Glass, 1974 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1979 $25,000–$35,000 Christie's
1998·11 Kiesler and De Kooning, 1960 platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1972 $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1998·10 Moments Preserved , New York: Simon & Schuster, 1960 $344–$517 Christie's
1998·10 The Angel, New York (1946) $5,000–$7,000 Christie's
1998·10 Four Unggai, New Guinea (1970) $7,000–$9,000 Christie's
1998·10 Cameroon Seated Warrior and Seated Girl (c.1970) $7,000–$9,000 Christie's
1998·10 Hell's Angel - Doug, San Francisco (1967) $8,000–$10,000 Christie's
1998·10 Cuzco Children, Peru $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1998·06 Turning Head (B), Self-portrait, 1993 gelatin silver print, printed 1996 $13,313–$19,969 Christie's
1998·06 Theatre Accident, 1947 dye-transfer print, dry-mounted on card, printed 1984 $41,602–$58,244 Christie's
1998·05 'Woman with Roses, 1950', Paris, printed 1984 $11,466–$16,380 Christie's
1998·04 Cuzco Children, Peru (1948) $10,000–$15,000 Christie's
1998·04 Picasso (B), Cannes (1957) $15,000–$20,000 Christie's
1998·04 Man with Pink Face, New Guinea (1970) $8,000–$10,000 Christie's

Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.

This price costs one credit

Realized prices are metered. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19 — bought once, never expires, and a record you open stays open. Sign in to spend credits you already have, or buy a pass.

No credits? Buy a Research Pass — $19