Swiss/American, 1924–2019
Robert Frank
1,029results on record
59%sell-through
$19,050median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$952,500record in our coverage
Drawn from 1,029 recorded results (813 sold · 216 passed) across 14 auction houses, 1998–2026. 10 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 | 559 | 77% | $22,705 |
| other | 29 | 69% | $4,935 |
| works on paper | 24 | 100% | $27,500 |
| painting | 6 | n/a | $12,846 |
| prints | 5 | 100% | $3,275 |
Medium is recorded for 623 of 1,029 results (61%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Henri Cartier-bresson Robert Frank Henri Cartier-bresson
| Metric | Robert Frank | Henri Cartier-bresson |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $19,050 | $9,375 |
| Record price | $952,500 | $265,000 |
| Results on record | 1,029 | 1,767 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Henri Cartier-bressonAnsel AdamsIrving PennEdward Weston
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
64/ 100
- Sell-through59%
- Meets estimate58%
- Market depth1,029 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sotheby's | 515 | 61% | $23,750 | 0.83× |
| Christie's | 254 | 85% | $14,645 | — |
| Phillips | 149 | 60% | $32,500 | — |
| Heritage Auctions | 52 | 62% | $3,062 | — |
| Bonhams | 46 | 33% | $4,096 | 0.75× |
| Lempertz | 4 | 75% | $8,953 | — |
| Grisebach | 2 | — | $15,576 | — |
| Rago | 4 | 25% | $114,300 | — |
| Artcurial | 1 | — | $1,058 | 0.64× |
| Chiswick Auctions | 2 | 50% | $2,705 | — |
| SBI Art Auction | 4 | 25% | $2,181 | — |
| Koller | 1 | — | $26,987 | — |
| Tiroche | 1 | 100% | $10,000 | 0.64× |
| Yair gallery | 1 | 100% | $300 | — |
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 1,046 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 216 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026·09 | Detroit, Belle Isle, 1955; printed later | gelatin silver print | $6,000–$8,000 | upcoming | Freeman's | Hindman | |
| 2026·09 | Beaufort, South Carolina (from The Americans ), 1955; printed later | gelatin silver print | $20,000–$30,000 | upcoming | Freeman's | Hindman | |
| 2026·09 | The Lines of My Hand [First Yugensha/Motomura Edition], 1972 | $809–$1,079 | upcoming | Chiswick Auctions | ||
| 95 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2026·06 | The Americans | Third edition monograph | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·06 | Flower is.... | Bound 4° volume with gelatin silver print tipped on slipcase | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·06 | Les Américains | Oblong 8vo | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·06 | The Lines of My Hand | Expanded, revised American edition, 4to | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·06 | The Lines of My Hand | First edition Folio | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·06 | 'Los Angeles' | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·05 | Picnic In A Car Park, Fourth of July, 1955 | $6,710–$9,394 | Chiswick Auctions | |||
| 2026·05 | The Americans, 1959 | — | Chiswick Auctions | |||
| 2026·04 | Near Victoria Station, London | $4,000–$6,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | Butte, Montana | $12,000–$18,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | City Fathers | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | Valencia, Spain | $8,000–$12,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | San Gennaro Festival, New York City | $6,000–$8,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | Parade - Hoboken, New Jersey | $70,000–$90,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | Candy Store, New York City | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2026·04 | Cuzco, Peru | Gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·04 | Cleveland, Public Park, (from The Americans) | Gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2026·03 | 'Los Angeles' | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·02 | Les Américains | $1,200–$1,800 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·02 | Peep Show (Times Square, New York City) | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·02 | St. Petersburg, Florida | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2026·02 | New Orleans (Trolley) | $90,000–$120,000 | Rago | |||
| 2026·01 | Queen Coming, London | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2026·01 | Andrea at Bowery | — | SBI Art Auction | |||
| 2025·12 | Daytona Beach | $15,000–$20,000 | Rago | |||
| 2025·11 | Picnic in a Car Park, Fourth of July | $7,000–$9,000 | Rago | |||
| 2025·11 | Reno | $25,000–$35,000 | Rago | |||
| 2025·10 | Untitled (Paris) | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·10 | Mississippi River, Baton Rouge, Louisiana | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·10 | Tulip, Paris | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·10 | Family U.S. 90 (En Route to Del Rio, Texas) | $150,000–$250,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·10 | Charleston, S.C. | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·10 | Barber Shop Through the Screen Door, McClellanville, S.C. | Gelatin silver print, printed circa 1977 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·10 | Jack Kerouac, Florida | Gelatin silver print, printed later | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·10 | New Jersey Trip with Kerouac | Gelatin silver print | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·10 | London (Belsize Crescent) | Gelatin silver print, printed 1980 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·10 | City Fathers, Hoboken, New Jersey (from The Americans) | Gelatin silver print, printed circa 1962 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·10 | Charleston, South Carolina (from The Americans) | Gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·10 | 'Mary and Andrea' | $5,000–$7,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·10 | Peep Show (Times Square, New York City) | $7,000–$10,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·10 | St. Petersburg, Florida | $7,000–$10,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·09 | Peru | $400–$600 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·09 | Raoul Hague | $400–$600 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·07 | Cadillac Showroom, NYC | $4,000–$6,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·06 | The Americans | 83 halftone prints bound in volume | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | City Fathers, Hoboken, New Jersey (from The Americans) | Gelatin silver print, printed circa 1962 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | New Orleans (Trolley) | Oversized gelatin silver print, printed 1977 | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Ranch Market, Hollywood | Gelatin silver print, printed 1960s | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Italy | Gelatin silver print on Agfa paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Indianapolis | Gelatin silver print on Agfa Brovira paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2025·04 | Elko, Nevada, 1955 | gelatin silver print | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·04 | Trolley - New Orleans, 1955 | gelatin silver print, printed 1986 | $60,000–$80,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2025·04 | Cafeteria, San Francisco, 1955 | gelatin silver print, printed later | $12,000–$18,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2025·04 | Covered Car, Long Beach, California, 1955-1956 | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $35,000–$45,000 | upcoming | Christie's | |
| 2025·04 | 'San Francisco' | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·04 | Beaufort, South Carolina | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·04 | Political Rally, Chicago | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·04 | Parade - Hoboken, New Jersey | $60,000–$80,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·04 | Tulip, Paris | $20,000–$30,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2025·01 | Raoul Hague | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·01 | Peru | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | The Americans | $4,000–$6,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·10 | 'New Mexico' (U. S. 285) | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | 'NYC' (Bar - New York City) | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Cleveland | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Street line, New York (34th Street) | $70,000–$100,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Cafeteria - San Francisco | $12,000–$18,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Chicago | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | Cadillac Showroom, NYC | $10,000–$15,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | 'NYC Yom Kippur' | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | 'Pablo Mary and Andrea in Texas' (U.S. 90, En Route to Del Rio, Texas) | $200,000–$300,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·10 | New York City | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | 34th Street, New York City | $60,000–$80,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | Idyll in the Woods, Spain | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | Picnic In A Car Park, Fourth Of July | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | Coney Island, 4th of July | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | Mary, Pablo, Andrea, Texas | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | Whitmore Lake, Michigan | $8,000–$12,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·10 | U.S. 285, New Mexico, 1956 | gelatin silver print, printed 1960s | $50,000–$70,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·10 | View from hotel window - Butte, Montana, 1956 | gelatin silver print, probably printed 1960s | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·10 | Los Angeles, 1955 | gelatin silver print, printed 1960s | $40,000–$60,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·10 | Newburgh, New York, 1954 | gelatin silver print | $50,000–$70,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2024·10 | Day Before Arrival in New York (S.S. "Mauretania") | Gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·07 | Valencia, Spain | $5,000–$7,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·05 | Peru | $1,000–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·05 | Raoul Hague | $1,000–$2,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·04 | The Lines of My Hand | Illustrated with reproductions of Frank's personal photographs. White-stamped black cloth; matching slipcase with mounted photographic reproduction; illustrated Japanese caption pamphlet laid in. First Edition. Yugensha/Kazuhiko Motomura, Tokyo. One of 1000 unnumbered copies. | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2024·04 | Bar, Las Vegas, Nevada | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·04 | Beaufort, South Carolina | $25,000–$35,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2024·04 | 'Detroit - Belle Isle' | $7,000–$10,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·04 | New York City | $7,000–$9,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·03 | FRANK, ROBERT. B. 1924. Photograph signed ("Robert Frank"), "Paul Goodman," | $800–$1,200 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·02 | Charleston, South Carolina, 1955 | gelatin silver print, printed 1970s | $150,000–$250,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2023·12 | Cynthia MacAdams | $3,000–$5,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·12 | Nyc | $6,000–$9,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·12 | Wales (Ben James, Miner) | $10,000–$15,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·12 | 'Los Angeles' | $6,000–$8,000 | Bonhams | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.