Wolfgang Mattheuer Auction Prices and Value Guide

Wolfgang Mattheuer auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 380 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Wolfgang Mattheuer auction prices: quick answer

Wolfgang Mattheuer auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Wolfgang Mattheuer
Source records
380
Market update
2026-02-06

Wolfgang Mattheuer market snapshot

Wolfgang Mattheuer shows deep auction liquidity with 237 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $896. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 24 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2026-02-03.

Realized price distribution

  • Under $1,000 (58.1% · 93 sales)
  • $1,000 to $10,000 (34.4% · 55 sales)
  • $10,000+ (7.5% · 12 sales)
Median sale (last 12 months)
$700
Sales recorded (last 12 months)
24
Median shift vs prior year
0.0%
Latest recorded sale
2026-02-03

Artist context

About Wolfgang Mattheuer

Wolfgang Mattheuer (1927–2004) was a German painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and illustrator born in Reichenbach im Vogtland. He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Leipzig before joining the faculty of the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig, where he taught until resigning his professorship in 1974 to work independently. Together with Werner Tübke and Bernhard Heisig, Mattheuer became a leading figure of the Leipzig School, a figurative art movement in East Germany known for its technical rigor and engagement with allegory, myth, and social commentary. His paintings often carried a pessimistic or heroic undertone, and his later career was marked by a candid critique of both socialism and capitalism. He left the Socialist Unity Party in 1988. Works by Mattheuer are held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, among other institutions.

Leipzig SchoolOil paintingPrintmaking and graphic artSculptureDrawingAllegorical and symbolic figurative compositionsHuman figures in landscape

Common works and media

Collectors may encounter Mattheuer's work across a range of media. He produced oil paintings on canvas and panel, often figurative compositions with allegorical or symbolic content. His graphic oeuvre includes etchings, lithographs, and woodcuts, some issued in numbered editions. He also created drawings in ink, charcoal, and pencil, as well as sculptures in bronze and other materials. Book illustrations and design-related graphic work also form part of his output. Subject matter frequently centers on the human figure within landscape or architectural settings, rendered with the precise, somewhat surreal figurative style characteristic of the Leipzig School.

Market and appraisal context

Wolfgang Mattheuer's work appears regularly at auction, particularly in Germany and continental Europe, with over 380 recorded lots. Collectors most frequently encounter his prints and graphic works, which make up a substantial share of his market presence, alongside oil paintings, drawings, and occasional sculptures. Valuation depends on medium, scale, date of execution, provenance, and condition. Large-format paintings and works from his mature period of the 1970s and 1980s tend to be the most significant at auction. Editioned prints should be checked for edition size, numbering, and plate condition. As with many Leipzig School artists, exhibition history and published provenance can meaningfully affect value.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • No published catalogue raisonné was identified in the source pack; attribution and completeness of the oeuvre should be confirmed through additional specialist resources.
  • Mattheuer's market is concentrated in German-speaking countries and continental European auction houses; results from other regions may be limited.
  • The 380 auction records associated with this artist on Appraisily suggest a moderately active secondary market, but realized-price ranges vary widely by medium and size.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

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.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Wolfgang Mattheuer

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Wolfgang Mattheuer 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 Wolfgang Mattheuer artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.