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
Käthe Kollwitz maintains a deep and active auction market spanning over two decades, with 1,135 total lots recorded and 786 carrying realized prices. Her work trades regularly across major German and Swiss houses (Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen AG, Grisebach, Schmidt Kunstauktionen Dresden) and prominent international firms (Bonhams, Christie's, Swann Auction Galleries, Weschler's). The price distribution is wide but informative: the interquartile range runs from approximately $390 to $2,500, with a median near $1,100, reflecting that the majority of lots are mid-range prints. However, rare early-state etchings from her key series can reach five or six figures—the top recorded price is $1,100,000, and recent standout lots at Galerie Kornfeld include Bewaffnung in einem Gewölbe (CHF 130,000), Not (CHF 50,000), and Besuch im Krankenhaus (CHF 46,000) in September 2024. Liquidity is strong: 130 lots appeared in the most recent 12-month window versus 87 in the prior 12 months, indicating rising market activity. The most frequently encountered media are etchings, lithographs, and woodcuts, with sculptures appearing far less often.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Etching
- Lithography
- Woodcut
- Sculpture
- Drawing
Value drivers
- [object Object]
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.
- The recorded price range ($1 to $1,100,000) reflects the full spectrum from minor unsigned prints to rare early-state masterworks. Average or median prices should not be applied to individual works without matching specific medium, 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.