Käthe Kollwitz Auction Prices and Value Guide
Käthe Kollwitz auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 4,110 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Käthe Kollwitz auction prices: quick answer
Käthe Kollwitz auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Käthe Kollwitz
- Source records
- 4,110
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Käthe Kollwitz
Käthe Kollwitz (1867–1945) was a German printmaker, sculptor, and draftswoman whose work gave visual form to the struggles of the working class, women, and those affected by war. Born in Königsberg, Prussia, she trained initially as a painter but shifted decisively toward the graphic arts after encountering Max Klinger's writings in the early 1890s. Over a career spanning more than five decades, she mastered etching, lithography, and woodcut, producing celebrated print cycles such as The Weavers and The Peasant War. Her sculpture, though less prolific, is equally powerful. Kollwitz became the first woman elected to the Prussian Academy of Arts and received honorary professor status. The death of her son in World War I profoundly reshaped her art toward themes of grief and mourning. Her dense, expressive line work and stark contrasts of light and dark align her legacy with Expressionism, even as her subjects remained rooted in direct human experience.
ExpressionismSocial RealismEtchingLithographyWoodcutSculptureWorking-class life and povertyWar, mourning, and griefWomen and motherhoodSelf-portraiture
Common works and media
Käthe Kollwitz's most commonly encountered works include intaglio prints (etchings and drypoints), lithographs, and woodcuts, frequently depicting mothers with children, grieving figures, self-portraits, and working-class subjects. Her recognized print series — The Weavers (1893–1897), The Peasant War (1902–1908), and War (1922–1923) — appear regularly in the auction market. Individual sheets from these cycles, as well as standalone lithographic posters and self-portrait studies, are widely held in museum and private collections. Sculptural works, primarily in bronze and plaster, are less common at auction but form an important part of her oeuvre.
Market and appraisal context
Kollwitz's prints appear regularly at auction, making her one of the most accessible modern German artists for collectors. Etchings, lithographs, and woodcuts from her major series — especially The Weavers, The Peasant War, and War — are the works most frequently encountered. Value depends heavily on the specific medium, impression state, edition number, sheet size, and condition. Original early-state impressions signed by the artist tend to be the most sought after. Sculptures are considerably rarer on the market. Collectors should be aware that many of her prints were issued in multiple editions and that later impressions or restrikes require careful differentiation from earlier pulls.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Kollwitz produced many prints in multiple editions and states; distinguishing early impressions from later re-strikes requires specialist examination.
- Sculptures are comparatively rare at auction and may require independent authentication.
- Market values for prints by Kollwitz vary widely depending on medium, size, edition, condition, and subject.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Tate 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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Käthe Kollwitz 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 Käthe Kollwitz artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.