Bernard Karfiol Auction Prices and Value Guide

Bernard Karfiol auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 187 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Bernard Karfiol auction prices: quick answer

Bernard Karfiol auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Bernard Karfiol
Source records
187
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Bernard Karfiol

Bernard Karfiol (1886–1952) was a Hungarian-born American painter and watercolorist whose work drew deeply on French modernist traditions. Born in Hungary on May 6, 1886, he immigrated to the United States and established his practice in New York City by 1906. Karfiol pursued a distinctive artistic vision that sought to merge the formal clarity of Hellenic classical painting with the abstract concerns of twentieth-century modernism. His paintings reflect a synthesis of classical figuration and modernist structure, placing him among the generation of American artists who absorbed European avant-garde ideas while developing an independent pictorial language. Karfiol's work is represented in major institutional collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He is recorded in standard reference works including Bénézit's Dictionary of Artists and Mantle Fielding's Dictionary of American Painters.

French modernismoil paintingwatercolorfigurative compositions with classical references

Common works and media

Karfiol is best known for oil paintings and watercolors that blend classical figuration with modernist abstraction. Common subjects include figure studies and compositions referencing Hellenic or classical themes rendered through a modernist lens. Works range from smaller works on paper to larger canvas paintings. With 187 lots recorded in the Appraisily auction database, his work appears with moderate frequency in the American art market.

Market and appraisal context

Bernard Karfiol's works appear at auction primarily as oil paintings and watercolors, typically categorized under American Art or Post-War & Contemporary Art. Provenance linked to institutional exhibitions or well-documented gallery history can materially affect appraisal value. His inclusion in Bénézit and Fielding's reference dictionaries supports attribution confidence. Collectors should consider medium, dimensions, condition, and exhibition or publication history when evaluating individual works. The absence of a published catalogue raisonné means authentication may require specialist consultation.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Medium (oil on canvas, watercolor) and dimensions affect appraisal range
  2. Institutional provenance or exhibition history (e.g., MoMA) can significantly increase value
  3. Attribution should be confirmed; Karfiol is listed in Bénézit and Fielding's dictionaries

Appraisal caveats

  • Specific death date not found in public authority sources; only the year 1952 is widely recorded
  • MoMA and Library of Congress pages were not fully accessible at collection time; institutional holdings may be underreported
  • No auction-specific price records or catalogue raisonné were available in the source pack

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Bernard Karfiol

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Bernard Karfiol worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Bernard Karfiol artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.