American, 1917–2009
Irving Penn
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
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.
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
| Medium | Results | Sell-through | Median 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
| Metric | Irving Penn | Robert Mapplethorpe |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $28,800 | $15,000 |
| Record price | $567,600 | $726,348 |
| Results on record | 1,559 | 1,490 |
| 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
| House | Results | Sell-through | Median | vs. 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
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2019·04 | Cottage Tulip: Sorbet, New York | $50,000–$70,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Three Asaro Mud Men, New Guinea | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Cigarette 47, New York | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Kate Moss (Hand on Neck), New York, April 25 | $60,000–$80,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Gerbera Daisy/Gerbera jamesonii "Husky," New York | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Columbine/Aquilegia vulgaris: William Guiness, New York | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·04 | Jascha Heifetz, 1948 | gelatin silver contact print, mounted on board | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Georgia O'Keeffe, New York, Jan. 31, 1948 | gelatin silver print, mounted on board | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Rose, Fritz Nobis, London, 1970 | pigment print, flush–mounted on board, printed 2006 | $70,000–$90,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Iceland Poppy/ Papaver nudicaule (A), New York, 2006 | pigment print, flush–mounted on board | $80,000–$100,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Blast, New York, 1980 | platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1981 | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Black and White Vogue Cover (Jean Patchett), New York, 1950 | selenium toned gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on paper, printed 1984 | $100,000–$150,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·04 | Cigarette no. 69, New York, 1972 | platinum-palladium print, flush-mounted on aluminum, printed 1975 | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·03 | Cigarette No. 37, New York | $131,499–$197,249 | Christie's | |||
| 2019·01 | Tennessee Williams, New York | $20,000–$30,000 | Wright | |||
| 2018·12 | Ballet Theatre, New York | $7,000–$9,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·11 | Three Asaro Mudmen, New Guinea, 1970 | $57,120–$79,968 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | New Guinea Man with painted on glasses, 1970 | $22,848–$34,272 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | Man with Pink Face, New Guinea, 1971 | $22,848–$28,560 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | Sitting girl, Cameroon, 1969 | $17,136–$22,848 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | Seated Warrior, Sitting Girl, Cameroon, 1969 | $22,848–$28,560 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | Two Women in Black, with Bread, Morocco, 1971 | $28,560–$34,272 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | The Poor Lovers, 1979 | $28,560–$34,272 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·11 | Rag and Bone Man, London | $38,764–$64,606 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·11 | Coal Man, New York | $38,764–$64,606 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·11 | Three Wines of France, New York | $64,606–$90,448 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Improvised Device for Holding Cable Release | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·10 | Woman in Moroccan Palace (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Marrakech, 1951 | platinum-palladium print, mounted on aluminum, printed 1983 | $300,000–$500,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Cigarette No. 52, New York, 1972 | platinum-palladium print, mounted on aluminum, printed 1974 | $25,000–$35,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Girl Drinking (M.J.R.), New York, 1949 | selenium-toned gelatin silver print, printed 1983 | $30,000–$50,000 | Unsold listing | Christie's | |
| 2018·10 | Frozen Foods, New York, 1977 | dye transfer print, mounted on board, printed 1984 | $70,000–$90,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Marchand de Concombres, Paris, 1950 | platinum–palladium print, printed 1976 | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Marchande de Ballons, Paris, 1950 | platinum–palladium print, printed 1976 | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Jacques Fath, New York, March 26, 1948 | gelatin silver contact print | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·10 | Spencer Tracy, New York, March 23, 1948 | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Joseph Brodsky, New York, Jan. 7, 1980 | $10,000–$15,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Callot Swallow-Tail Dress | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Four Guedras, Morocco | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Marcel Duchamp, New York, April 30 | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Porter, New York | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | John F. Kennedy, Washington, D.C., 1960 | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Nude | $12,000–$18,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Three Squatting Sisters, Nepal, 1967 | $8,000–$12,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Moroccan Child with Lamb, 1971 | $50,000–$70,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | Barnett Newman, New York, 1966 | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·10 | 'caviar, new york, jan 18, 2001' | $100,000–$150,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·10 | cuzco children | $80,000–$120,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·10 | Gerbera Daisy/Gerbera asteracaea (New York | $40,000–$60,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·10 | Igor Stravinsky | $20,000–$30,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·10 | Icelandic Poppy/Papaver Nudicaule (New York | $40,000–$60,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·10 | Tribesman with Nose Ornament (New Guinea | $30,000–$50,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·10 | Bouillabaisse (Barcelona, 1948) | $15,000–$25,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·06 | Hell's Angel: Doug | Platinum-palladium, 1976 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Guedras in the Wind, Morocco | Platinum-palladium, 1978 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Improvised Device for Holding Cable Release | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | John Marin | Platinum-palladium, 1972 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·06 | Cuzco Children, Peru, December | Platinum-palladium, flush-mounted to aluminum, 1978 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2018·05 | 'girl with nose disc', cameroon, 1969 | $54,058–$81,088 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·05 | Black and White Vogue Cover (Jean Patchett), New York | $270,292–$405,438 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·05 | Three Poppies, Arab Chief, New York | $108,117–$162,175 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·05 | Woman in Feather Hat (B), New York | $33,786–$47,301 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·05 | Butchers, Paris | $40,544–$67,573 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·05 | Nude 151, 1950 | platinum-palladium print, printed July 1976 | $13,515–$20,272 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | Cigarette #42, New York, c. 1974 | platinum-palladium print, printed 1974, mounted on aluminum | $29,732–$37,841 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | Cigarettes, Street findings, New York, 1999 | Fuji crystal archive print, printed September 2000, flush-mounted on aluminium | $33,786–$47,301 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | Nadja Auermann (B), New York, June 22, 1994 | gelatin silver print, printed 1999 | $20,272–$27,029 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·05 | 'wet brushes', new york, april 13th 1955 | $9,460–$13,515 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·05 | 'motorcycle policeman', new york, 1951 | $33,786–$47,301 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·05 | 'deep sea diver', new york 1951 | $33,786–$47,301 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·05 | 'train coach waiter', new york, 1951 | $33,786–$47,301 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·05 | 'rag and bones', london, 1950 | $54,058–$81,088 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | man with pink face, new guinea | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'woman on the beach, smoking (mary jane russell, long island, n. y.)' | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'man lighting girl's cigarette (new york)' | $70,000–$100,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'playing card' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'black rhino' | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'vogue christmas cover (new york)' | $60,000–$90,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'collapse' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'crossing the river styx (b) (new york, new york)' | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'picasso (b) cannes' | $70,000–$100,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'issey miyake design with black fan (new york)' | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | 'enga warrior' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·04 | Two Women in Black with Bread, Morocco | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Man Fishing from Bank of Seine | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Gisele (B), New York, April 1 | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Miles Davis, New York, July 1 | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Gisele, New York, April 1 | $70,000–$90,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Cuzco Children, Peru | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Jean Cocteau, Paris | $12,000–$18,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Iceland Poppy/Papaver nudicaule (G), New York | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Ospedale, March 4 | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Breast (A) New York, March 5 | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Marcel Duchamp, New York, April 30 | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·04 | Girl Behind Bottle, New York (Jean Patchett) | $120,000–$180,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·04 | Cuzco Children, Peru | $200,000–$300,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·04 | Yevgeni Yevtushenko, New York | $8,000–$12,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2018·04 | Nude Bathing in Basin, New York, 1978 | platinum–palladium print, mounted on aluminum, printed 1992–1993 | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·04 | Veiled Face (Evelyn Tripp), 1949 | selenium-toned gelatin silver print, mounted on board, printed 1984 | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·11 | Marlene Dietrich, New York 1948 | $17,624–$29,372 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Dora Maar, 1948 | $11,749–$17,624 | Sotheby's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.