Max Kaus Auction Prices and Value Guide
Max Kaus auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 481 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Max Kaus auction prices: quick answer
Max Kaus auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Max Kaus
- Source records
- 481
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Max Kaus
Max Kaus (1891–1977) was a German painter, printmaker, and graphic artist associated with the second generation of German Expressionism. Born in Berlin-Moabit, Kaus trained and spent much of his career in his native city. He worked across a range of printmaking techniques—lithography, etching, and woodcut—alongside painting, and his graphic output is particularly well represented in institutional collections. Beyond his studio practice, Kaus held a prominent academic role as deputy director at the Academy of Visual Arts in West Berlin, where he taught and influenced a subsequent generation of artists. His work is held by major museums including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and his identity is well established across library authority files including the Getty ULAN, VIAF, and the Library of Congress. Collectors most often encounter Kaus through his prints and graphic works, which appear regularly in the German and international auction market.
German Expressionism (second generation)paintinglithographyetchingwoodcut
Common works and media
Collectors are most likely to encounter Max Kaus through his graphic prints—lithographs, etchings, and woodcuts featuring expressionist figural compositions, landscapes, and still-life subjects. His paintings in oil are less frequently seen at auction but do appear. Works on paper, including drawings and watercolors, also form part of his documented output. Many of his prints exist in editions, so impression number and condition are important for identification and valuation.
Market and appraisal context
Max Kaus produced a substantial body of graphic work—lithographs, etchings, and woodcuts—that circulates widely at auction, alongside a smaller number of oil paintings. When appraising a Kaus work, the medium is a primary value determinant: paintings typically command higher prices than prints or works on paper. For prints, edition size, plate tone, paper quality, and condition are critical factors. Attribution should be verified against known catalogues, and provenance documentation strengthens appraisal confidence. Comparable auction results from major houses, particularly in Germany, provide the most reliable pricing benchmarks. No single published price index covers Kaus comprehensively, so appraisers should consult multiple auction databases.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Medium distinction: oil paintings generally carry higher values than prints or works on paper
- Attribution and authenticity should be confirmed; Kaus produced a significant volume of graphic work
- Date of execution and provenance history are key appraisal factors
- Condition is especially important for prints and works on paper, which constitute a large portion of his output
Appraisal caveats
- Market evidence in the source pack is limited; no specific auction records or price references were found. Appraisal should be supplemented with comparable auction results from dedicated databases.
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
- Library of Congress library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art 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 Max Kaus 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 Max Kaus artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.