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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2017·11 | Dora Maar, 1948 | $11,749–$17,624 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Marlene Dietrich, New York 1948 | $17,624–$29,372 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | cigarette no 86, 1972 | $20,977–$26,804 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Aphrodisiacs, New York 1997 | $23,308–$34,962 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Nude 132, 1949-1950 | $13,985–$20,977 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | nude 55, 1949-1950 | $17,481–$23,308 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | seven shells, new york 2002 | $12,819–$16,316 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | single oriental poppy, new york, 1968 | $34,962–$58,270 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | cigarettes, street findings, new york, 1999 | $46,616–$69,924 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Still Life with Watermelon, New York, 1947 | $69,924–$93,232 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Two Guedras, 1971 | $46,616–$69,924 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Picasso (B), Cannes, 1957 | $69,924–$93,232 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Nude 130, 1949-1950 | $13,985–$20,977 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | Frozen Foods, New York, 1977 | $81,578–$104,886 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | potatoes and baltic herring, sweden, 1964 | $13,985–$20,977 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·11 | The Hand of Miles Davis (B), New York, 1986 | $93,232–$116,540 | Christie's | |||
| 2017·11 | Metropolis, New York, June, 1980 | $23,308–$29,135 | Christie's | |||
| 2017·11 | Single Oriental Poppy, New York | $65,650–$91,910 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·11 | Dior Fur Scarf (Jean Patchett), New York | $32,825–$45,955 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Poppy: Glowing Embers, New York, 1968 | dye transfer print, printed 1989 | $150,000–$250,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Frozen Food (With String Beans), New York, 1977 | dye transfer print, printed 1993 | $70,000–$90,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Marcel Duchamp, New York, April 30, 1948 | gelatin silver print, printed 1983 | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Broken Egg, New York, 1959 | dye transfer print, mounted on board | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Hippie Family (F), San Francisco, 1967 | platinum–palladium print, printed 1976 | $15,000–$25,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | The Hand of Miles Davis, New York, 1986 | gelatin silver print, mounted on board | $80,000–$120,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Sculptor's Model, Paris | $10,000–$15,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Sitting Enga New Guinea Woman | $18,000–$24,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Still Life with Triangle and Red Eraser, New York | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Two Women in Black with Bread, Morocco | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Butchers, Paris | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Pablo Picasso at La Californie, Cannes, France | $50,000–$70,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Cottage Tulip: Sorbet, New York | dye-transfer print, mounted on board | $79,418–$105,891 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Guedras in the Wind | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Mascara Wars, New York | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Colette, Paris | $8,000–$12,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Steinberg in Nose Mask, New York | $12,000–$18,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·10 | Ginkgo Leaves (New York) | $150,000–$250,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2017·05 | 'hippie family (kelly), san francisco', 1967 | $13,013–$19,519 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·05 | Woman with Roses (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Paris, 1950 | gelatin silver print, printed before 1974, mounted on board | $26,075–$39,112 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Miles Davis, New York, 1986 | gelatin silver print, printed 1991, mounted on board | $26,075–$39,112 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Cecil Beaton, 1958 | platinum-palladium print, printed May/June 1980, flush-mounted on aluminium | $19,556–$26,075 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | The Hand of Miles Davis (C), New York, 1986 | gelatin silver print, printed 1992, mounted on board | $91,261–$117,335 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Paper Towel, New York, 1975 | platinum-palladium print, mounted on board | $10,430–$15,645 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·05 | Imperial Pink Bud (top), Imperial Gold Bud (bottom), New York | $38,896–$64,826 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·05 | Kate Moss, New York | $32,413–$45,378 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·05 | Gisele, New York | $90,756–$116,687 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·05 | Girl in Bath (Jean Patchett), New York | $64,826–$90,756 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·04 | Hippie Family (F) | $8,000–$10,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2017·04 | Cigarette 37, New York | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2017·04 | 1,000 Year Old Eggs (A), New York, 2003 | Fuji Crystal Archive print, flush–mounted on board | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·04 | 'Marchand de Concombres, Paris' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·04 | 'Three Village Elders, Khenifra, Morocco (Three Arabs, Morocco)' | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·04 | 'Playing Card' | $40,000–$60,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·04 | 'Jerome Robbins' | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·04 | Nude | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·04 | Sitting Man with Pink Face, New Guinea | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Black and White Fashion (with Handbag) (Jean Patchett), New York, 1950 | $45,126–$58,019 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Three Poppies, Arab Chief, New York, 1969 | $108,950–$163,425 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·11 | Mouth (for L'Oreal), New York, 1986 | $196,110–$239,690 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·11 | Nude, 1949-1950 | $13,074–$19,611 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·11 | Contact Lens, New York, 1981 | $16,342–$21,790 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·11 | Woman with Sun Block, New York, 1966 | $16,342–$21,790 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·11 | Balenciaga 'Little Great' Coat (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), Paris | $12,479–$18,719 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | New York Still Life | $18,719–$24,959 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Parade | $9,984–$14,975 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Bee on Lips, New York | $99,835–$149,753 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Nubile Young Beauty of Diamarè, Cameroon | $31,199–$43,678 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Scarred Dahomey Girl, Cameroon | $24,959–$37,438 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·11 | Two Guedras, Morocco | $49,918–$74,876 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Portrait of Khawaja Nazimuddin, his wife, the Nawab Begum, and the Nawab of Dacca and his wife | Gelatin silver, 1947 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | Portrait of Frank Crowninshield | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | India | Warm-toned gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | Street Café in Hyderabad, India | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | Woman and child in a shopfront, India | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | Dusek Brothers, New York | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | Portrait of Allene Talmey | Gelatin silver | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2016·10 | Hippie Family (F) | $10,000–$15,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2016·10 | New York Still Life with Food | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·10 | 'Marcel Duchamp' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·10 | 'Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn' (Woman with Roses) | $120,000–$180,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·10 | Cocoa Dress (Balenciaga), Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, 1950 | platinum-palladium print, mounted on aluminum, printed 1979 | $50,000–$70,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·10 | (SM) Flat Glove, New York | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Poppy: Burgundy, New York | $60,000–$80,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Patissiers, Paris | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Woman with Three Loaves, Morocco | $18,000–$22,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Cuzco Children, Peru, December | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Dahomey Children | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | The Angel | $8,000–$12,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·10 | Porter, New York | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·05 | Two fighting crickets, New York, July 12, 2005 | gelatin silver print, printed 2006, mounted on board | $26,224–$36,422 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·05 | Three Wines of France, New York, 1953 | archival pigment print, printed October 2006, flush-mounted on board | $58,274–$87,412 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·05 | Playing Card, 1976 | platinum-palladium print, printed March 1976 | $43,706–$72,843 | Christie's | ||
| 2016·05 | 'rochas mermaid dress (lisa fonssagrives-penn), paris’, 1950 | $58,481–$87,722 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | 'Bedside Lamp, New York', 2006 | $43,861–$73,102 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | 'Nude n° 141', 1949-50 | $43,861–$73,102 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | 'Mouth (For L'Oreal), New York', 1986 | $263,166–$336,268 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | 'Gypsy Family (Spain)', 1966 | $14,620–$21,931 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | 'Enga Warrior', 1970 | $29,241–$43,861 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·05 | Collage of Warning Signs, New York | $21,835–$29,113 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·05 | Summer Sleep, New York | $43,669–$72,782 | Phillips | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.