Louis Muhlstock Auction Prices and Value Guide
Louis Muhlstock auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 213 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Louis Muhlstock auction prices: quick answer
Louis Muhlstock auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Louis Muhlstock
- Source records
- 213
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Louis Muhlstock
Louis Muhlstock (1904–2001) was a Canadian painter born in Naraiv, in the Ternopil region of present-day Ukraine, who became one of Montreal's most recognized visual chroniclers. Active from the 1930s onward, he is best known for his socially engaged depictions of the Great Depression — unemployed men, street scenes, and the everyday texture of working-class Montreal. Alongside this documentary impulse, Muhlstock painted landscapes and urban views that captured the light and atmosphere of Quebec across decades. His work earned him an honorary LL.D. and a lasting place in Canadian art history, with holdings documented in major reference sources including Bénézit and the Witt Checklist. Collectors most often encounter his oil paintings and drawings at auction, where his Depression-era subjects and Montreal scenes are particularly sought after.
oil paintingdrawinglandscapeurban scenesGreat Depression scenes
Common works and media
Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Muhlstock's oil on canvas or board paintings of Montreal streets, Depression-era figures, and Quebec landscapes. Drawings — particularly charcoal and graphite figure studies and urban sketches — also appear regularly. Editioned prints or reproductions are less commonly documented. Subject matter ranges from socially charged street scenes and unemployed workers to quieter rural and waterfront landscapes.
Market and appraisal context
Louis Muhlstock's work appears at Canadian art auctions with reasonable frequency, particularly in sales of 20th-century Canadian painting. Oil paintings of Depression-era subjects and Montreal urban scenes tend to draw the strongest collector interest. Works on paper, including drawings, are also common but generally command lower prices than oils. Provenance linking a work to notable exhibitions or institutional collections can meaningfully affect its appraisal value. As with many Canadian artists of his generation, condition, size, subject matter, and exhibition history are the primary factors specialists consider. Comparable public auction results should be reviewed for any individual appraisal, as the market for Canadian historical paintings can vary considerably by period and subject.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Subject matter — Depression-era scenes and Montreal urban landscapes are most closely associated with the artist's reputation
- Medium — oil paintings and works on paper may differ significantly in value
- Provenance and exhibition history can substantially affect value given the artist's documented Canadian institutional presence
Appraisal caveats
- Public auction records for Muhlstock are limited in the source pack; comparable sales should be verified through specialist databases or major auction-house results
- Attribution should be confirmed for unsigned or undocumented works
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History 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 Louis Muhlstock 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 Louis Muhlstock artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.