Kurt Seligmann Auction Prices and Value Guide
Kurt Seligmann auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 217 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Kurt Seligmann auction prices: quick answer
Kurt Seligmann auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Kurt Seligmann
- Source records
- 217
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Kurt Seligmann
Kurt Seligmann (1900–1962) was a Swiss-born painter, engraver, and illustrator who became one of the most distinctive voices of the Surrealist movement. Born in Basel, Switzerland, Seligmann trained in Geneva and Paris before joining the circle of André Breton and the Paris Surrealists in the 1930s. His work is known for its fantastic imagery — medieval troubadours, armored knights, and spectral figures enacting macabre rituals — rooted in the carnival traditions of his native Basel. After emigrating to the United States around 1940, Seligmann played a pivotal role in introducing Surrealism to the American art world. He settled in Sugar Loaf, New York, where he lived and worked until his death in 1962. His paintings, prints, and illustrated books are held in major museum collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
SurrealismOil paintingEngravingPrintmakingIllustrationMedieval troubadours and knightsMacabre and ritual imageryCarnival and festivity themesFantastic and mythological imagery
Common works and media
Seligmann is most frequently encountered in appraisal contexts as oil on canvas or panel paintings featuring Surrealist and fantastical subject matter — armored figures, ritualistic tableaux, and spectral processions. His engraved prints, often on copper plate, are relatively common in print sales and can vary in edition size and impression quality. Illustrated books with original plates, drawings in ink or gouache, and occasional poster designs also appear at auction. Collectors may also encounter later works from his New York period, which sometimes show a shift toward more abstract or mythological themes.
Market and appraisal context
Kurt Seligmann's work appears at auction with moderate regularity across paintings, prints, and works on paper. Oil paintings from his mature Surrealist period of the 1930s and 1940s tend to attract the strongest interest. Engravings and illustrated books — including his influential occult study 'The Mirror of Magic' — also surface in sales. Condition, provenance, and confirmation of period are key factors in any appraisal. Exhibition history or inclusion in institutional collections adds measurable weight. Compared to better-known Surrealist peers, Seligmann's auction market is more specialized, and collectors should rely on comparable sale records and expert attribution when assessing value.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Market data in this profile is based on artist identity research and institutional records, not a full auction-price survey. Consult a qualified appraiser for valuation.
- Seligmann's market is narrower than major Surrealist names like Dalí or Magritte; comparable lots may be limited.
- The 217 records in the Appraisily/Invaluable database suggest regular but moderate auction presence.
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
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
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 Kurt Seligmann 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 Kurt Seligmann artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.