Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd Auction Prices and Value Guide
Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 551 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd auction prices: quick answer
Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd
- Source records
- 551
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd
Boris Izrailevich Anisfeld (1879–1973) was a Russian-American painter, scenographer, and stage designer whose career bridged the Symbolist and Modernist currents of early twentieth-century art. Born in Bălți, Bessarabia—then part of the Russian Empire, now Moldova—Anisfeld trained at the Odessa Drawing School and later at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, where he became associated with the Mir Iskusstva circle. He gained wide recognition for his imaginative stage and costume designs for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and other landmark theatrical productions. His painting style moved between Symbolist fantasy, rich color harmonies, and lyrical abstraction. After emigrating to the United States in 1928, Anisfeld served as a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago until 1956. His work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and other major institutions.
SymbolismModernismMir Iskusstva (World of Art)Oil paintingGouacheWatercolorStage and costume design (works on paper)Theatrical and stage scenesFantastical and allegorical landscapesFloral still lifes
Common works and media
Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Anisfeld's work as oil paintings on canvas, gouaches, watercolor compositions, and stage and costume designs executed in mixed media on paper. His subjects range from fantastical Symbolist landscapes and allegorical figure studies to theatrical production designs and floral still lifes. Works on paper related to Ballets Russes productions are among the most recognizable items at auction. Drawings in pencil and ink and occasional prints also appear in the market.
Market and appraisal context
Anisfeld's work appears at auction primarily as oil paintings, gouaches, watercolors, and stage and costume designs on paper. Works from his Russian period, particularly those connected to the Ballets Russes, tend to attract the strongest collector interest. Provenance linking a work to specific productions, notable collectors, or documented exhibitions is a significant valuation factor. Attribution can be challenging for unsigned theatrical designs, making provenance documentation especially important. The auction market for his work is moderate in depth, and realized prices vary considerably by medium, date, and subject matter.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- The auction market for Anisfeld is not especially deep; realized prices can vary significantly by medium, period, and subject
- Works attributed to Anisfeld should be verified against exhibition and publication records, as unsigned designs are common in theatre art
- Separating genuine Ballets Russes-era designs from later reinterpretations or copies requires provenance documentation
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD (Netherlands Institute for Art History) library authority
- VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
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 Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd
Artist value FAQ
How much is Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd 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 Boris Izrailevic Anisfel'd artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.