Hans Purrmann Auction Prices and Value Guide
Hans Purrmann auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 415 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Hans Purrmann auction prices: quick answer
Hans Purrmann auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Hans Purrmann
- Source records
- 415
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Hans Purrmann
Hans Marsilius Purrmann (1880–1966) was a German painter, watercolorist, and printmaker recognized for his vivid, color-rich landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. Born in Speyer, he trained as a scene painter before studying in Karlsruhe and Munich. In 1906 he moved to Paris, where he became a student and close associate of Henri Matisse, later co-founding a painting school with him. This formative period shaped Purrmann's distinctive approach to color and composition. After 1916 he lived in Berlin and Langenargen, and from 1935 to 1943 he directed the Villa Romana German art foundation in Florence. He spent his final decades in Montagnola and Basel, Switzerland. His work is represented in museum collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the Langenargen Museum, and the Purrmann House in Speyer.
ModernismFauvism (Matisse circle influence)Oil paintingWatercolorEtchingDrawingLandscapesStill lifesPortraits
Common works and media
Purrmann is most frequently encountered at auction in the form of oil-on-canvas landscapes and still lifes, often rendered in a bold, Fauvist-influenced palette. Portraits and figurative compositions also appear. Works on paper — watercolors, drawings, and etchings — represent a significant portion of his auction presence. Common subjects include Mediterranean and Swiss landscapes, floral arrangements, interiors, and figures. Graphic works and prints are more widely available than large-scale canvases.
Market and appraisal context
Hans Purrmann's work appears regularly at major European and North American auctions, with over 400 recorded lots spanning oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints. Key factors affecting appraisal include the work's period — pieces from his Paris years alongside Matisse or from his Florence directorship tend to attract stronger interest — as well as medium, size, subject matter, provenance, and condition. Oil paintings generally command higher prices than works on paper. Collectors should note that no comprehensive published catalogue raisonné was identified in available sources, making expert attribution review advisable for any unverified work.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- No single published catalogue raisonné was identified in the available sources; collectors should seek expert attribution review
- Market values can differ significantly between oil paintings and works on paper; medium and size strongly affect results
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Hans Purrmann 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 Hans Purrmann artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.