Grosser Kopf © Georg Baselitz 1966
Georg Baselitz
23 works
Key Takeaways
Georg Baselitz's prints typically fetch between £5,000 and £30,000. His most sought-after woodcuts and linocuts can reach higher prices, with the record price for a Baselitz print held by Grosser Kopf (1966), which sold for £85,000 in 2006. Authentication of Baselitz's prints requires examination of paper quality, printing technique, and provenance, with reference to the artist's catalogue raisonné compiled by Jahn and Gachnang and Mason. Given Baselitz's penchant for experimental techniques and inverted imagery, condition assessment is crucial to determining a print's value. Strategic timing of sales, such as during major retrospectives or following significant anniversaries like his 80th birthday in 2018, can optimise returns for sellers.
Georg Baselitz, with his provocative and innovative approach to painting, sculpture, and printmaking, is a towering figure in contemporary German art. His work is characterised by bold imagery, often featuring inverted figures and objects designed to unsettle the viewer and draw attention to the formal qualities of his work. This guide aims to navigate the market for Baselitz's prints, offering insights into valuation, authentication, and selling strategies for those looking to part with their pieces.
Baselitz's artistic vision was shaped by his experiences growing up in post-war East Germany and his subsequent move to West Berlin. His work often grapples with themes of German identity, history, and the human condition. In printmaking, Baselitz has explored various techniques, including woodcut, linocut, etching, and aquatint, often combining multiple methods to create complex, layered images. His printmaking is characterised by a willingness to push technical boundaries to achieve striking visual effects. This innovative spirit has resulted in a body of printed work that stands as a significant contribution to contemporary printmaking, valued both for its technical mastery and its conceptual depth.
How Much Do Georg Baselitz Prints Sell For?
The market for Georg Baselitz's prints has remained robust in recent decades, reflecting his enduring popularity and the art world’s fascination with his unique style. Individual prints by Baselitz typically fetch between £5,000 and £30,000, with smaller or more iconic editions achieving much higher prices.
Baselitz's woodcuts from the 1970s and 1980s are among his most sought-after prints. A collection of 13 Adler 1974 (1974) prints, for example, sold for £65,079 in 2011. This print collection is prized for its raw expressiveness and its limited colour palette - both key elements of Baselitz’s style. Similarly, Baselitz’s black-and-white linocuts from the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Sitzender Mann (1977), Faustkämpfer (1977), and Kopf (1982) regularly perform well at auction, often achieving £25,000 and above for a single, large-scale print.
The record auction price achieved by a Baselitz print is £85,000. In 2006, Grosser Kopf (1966) sold at Christie’s London, exceeding its high estimate. The print is a woodcut of a male face, and, although not inverted, is a prime example of Baselitz’s expressive style. At only 47 x 40 cm in size, the print is much smaller than many of Baselitz’s prints; however, it exists in an edition of only 20. Many of Baselitz’s prints from around this time were produced in very small numbers, enhancing their value, rarity, and collector appeal.
Baselitz’s more recent prints, such as Im Wald Und Auf Der Heide: Aurora (2006) and Im Wald Und Auf Der Heide: The Appearance (2006), are equally as popular as his older works as they still reflect Baselitz’s recognisable style. A pair of these prints sold for £70,000 in 2019.
How Do You Authenticate a Georg Baselitz Print?
Authenticating a Georg Baselitz print requires provenance research, analysis of printing techniques and materials, and expert evaluation. The process begins with a thorough investigation into the print's history of ownership and exhibition. Certificates of authenticity, gallery receipts, exhibition catalogues, or correspondence with the artist or print studio, will be invaluable in establishing legitimacy.
Analysis of the materials used by Baselitz can be complex. He used a variety of different inks and paints in his printing, and printed onto various artist papers, rag paper, cardboard, and canvas. As such, it’s important to consult an appraiser with extensive experience in identifying Baselitz prints to confirm that the materials align with the artist’s known practices.
The definitive reference for Baselitz's prints is the catalogue raisonné compiled by Fred Jahn and Johannes Gachnang, published in 1983, with subsequent updates. This comprehensive catalogue documents Baselitz's printmaking output, providing detailed information on techniques, editions, and variations. Another equally valuable resource is the Peintre-Graveur catalogue raisonné compiled by Rainer Michael Mason, and published in 2019.
Baselitz has worked with various publishing houses, print studios, and galleries throughout his career, including Galerie Springer in Berlin, the Paragon Press in London, Atelier Crommelynck in Paris, and Edition Schellmann in Munich. Each collaboration with a print studio or publishing house has its own characteristics in terms of paper, technique, and style. And each relationship with a gallery will lead to an invaluable paper trail.
Edition & Signature
Georg Baselitz's approach to signing and numbering his prints can vary. His signature typically appears in pencil on the lower right of the print, often accompanied by the year of creation. The edition number is usually found on the lower left, written as a fraction (e.g., 15/50). In some cases, the signature and edition number appear on the reverse of the print. Other prints, such as Gebückter (1977), also feature additional notes, such as “Nr.2” to denote the plate number. Baselitz's print editions vary in size, with some limited to as few as six copies, while others reach 100 or more.
Artist's proofs, often marked “A.P.” or “E.A.” (épreuve d'artiste), are highly sought after by collectors. An AP of Untitled (Mann Mit Tablett (Man With Tray)) (1982) sold for £38,000 in 2019, proving their relative value within larger editions. In some cases, particularly with his woodcuts, Baselitz has created unique artist's proofs with hand-colouring or additional elements, making each one distinct within the edition - Im Wald Und Auf Der Heide: Aurora (2006), which incorporates pink coloured pencil over the linocut print, is the perfect example.
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Has Your Georg Baselitz Print Been Kept in Good Condition?
Any deterioration or softening of the bold, expressive quality of a Baselitz print can directly impact its value. Owners should protect their print from extremes in temperature and humidity and direct sunlight, while remaining aware of the nuances of maintaining their particular type of print. Aquatints and etchings, for example, are delicate and susceptible to rough handling, and the dense, saturated colour of a woodcut print may be more susceptible to noticeable fading.
When assessing your Baselitz print, it's essential to examine the paper for any signs of discolouration or fading. Baselitz often used high-quality, handmade papers for his prints, especially his woodcuts. These papers, while generally durable, can be susceptible to light damage over time. Any yellowing or browning of the paper, particularly around the edges, can indicate exposure to sunlight or improper storage conditions. You should also examine the print for any surface imperfections such as creases, tears, or indentations. Baselitz's prints often have a tactile quality, particularly his woodcuts, where the impression of the carved block is an integral part of the work's character. Any flattening or damage to this texture can detract from the print's authenticity and value.
Ideally, prints should be kept in acid-free portfolios, away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity. If framed, UV-protective glass and acid-free matting are recommended to prevent light damage and acid migration. For a thorough condition assessment, consider consulting a paper conservator specialising in contemporary prints. They can provide a detailed condition report and advise on any necessary conservation measures. Professional conservation, if needed, should be undertaken with great care to preserve the integrity of the print. Baselitz's work often embraces a raw, unrefined aesthetic, and overzealous restoration could potentially alter the character of the print and negatively impact its value.
For advice on how to get started with condition assessment of your Georg Baselitz print, contact MyArtBroker.
When is the Best Time to Sell My George Baselitz Print?
Choosing the optimal time to sell your Georg Baselitz print involves careful consideration of various market factors and events that can influence demand and prices. The market for Baselitz's work has shown steady growth over the past decades, but particular spikes in interest can create especially favourable selling conditions.
Major exhibitions or retrospectives of Baselitz's work often generate increased interest among collectors. For example, the comprehensive retrospective at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2021-22 sparked renewed international attention on Baselitz's work across all media, including his prints. In the year that followed, a handful of high-value print sales occurred, including a sale of Sitzender Mann (1977) for over £35,000. Similarly, exhibitions in smaller galleries can create more localised buzz - the effects of the 2018 retrospective at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., Georg Baselitz: Six Decades were felt primarily on the American market. 2018 also marked Baselitz’s 80th birthday, making it a popular year for exhibitions and retrospectives. Important anniversaries can, in this way, generate increased interest.
Keep an eye on broader trends in the art market, particularly those related to German Neo-Expressionism or post-war European art. We recommend monitoring sales results and value trajectory reports from major auction houses and galleries. They can provide insights into which series or periods of Baselitz's printmaking are currently in highest demand. For instance, if there's a surge of interest in Baselitz's early woodcuts from the 1970s, this suggests it could be a good time to sell yours.
As Baselitz is still a working artist, the release of new prints or limited editions can generate interest and excitement among collectors, potentially creating a ripple effect that increases demand for his earlier works. While new releases might initially seem to compete with existing prints, they often serve to reinvigorate interest in the artist's broader body of work.
MyArtBroker offers advanced art tech tools to help you determine the optimal time to sell. Our MyPortfolio service features an AI-powered value indicator that provides real-time valuations of individual prints based on both public and private sales data. Combined with our complimentary valuations, we can help ensure your print achieves maximum value by selling at the perfect moment.
Ways to Sell with MyArtBroker
At MyArtBroker, our specialists provide a free market valuation for your artwork, offering a level of transparency unmatched in today’s market. In addition to our valuations, through our online Trading Floor, you can access real-time insights into works by the artist you’re looking to sell, including pieces that are most in demand, wanted, or currently for sale: allowing sellers to trust the valuation that they are provided.
Additionally, the MyPortfolio collection management service grants you free access to our comprehensive print market database. This resource allows you to review auction histories for the specific work you’re looking to sell, including hammer prices, values paid, and seller returns. In a fluctuating market, this historical data is invaluable - and often comes at a cost elsewhere - offering insights into past and current values to further inform decisions based on market timing and conditions. In addition to our specialists guidance, you have concrete data.
Our approach is tailored to align with the unique attributes of each artwork, and offer optimal results:
How a Private Sale Works
Unlike peer-to-peer platforms, which lack specialised expertise, authenticity guarantees, and legal infrastructure for high-value sales, MyArtBroker operates through private sales ensuring a secure and seamless transaction process. We charge sellers 0% to sell, and take a small commission from our buyers, absorbing essential aspects including insurance, shipping, and marketing - at no extra cost to the seller. There is no magic to it, we’re a lean specialised business with less overheads than traditional models meaning we can do better for our clients.
Our revenue is derived from buyer commissions only, which are individually negotiated upon offer, and we aim to give the client the best return in the market place. By focusing on high-value artworks in excess of £10,000, we provide specialised care and expertise, ensuring each piece receives the attention it deserves, while simultaneously maximising returns with our clients. For works that fall below this threshold speak to the team about a recommendation, we offer market advisory free of charge. Our goal at MyArtBroker is to offer a seamless solution, setting us apart in the art market.
Advisory and Recommendations
In cases for artists and artworks, where our existing network of collectors isn’t the best fit due to value, medium or condition we collaborate with reputable partners to facilitate its sale. Carefully tailoring your artwork to the right party. This tailored approach is especially important as it considers the unique attributes of each artwork, providing sellers with the best possible outcome in today’s shifting art market. You can discuss this approach with us without charge as part of our advisory service.
Such recommendations are on a case-by-case basis, and ensures broader exposure and takes advantage of our knowledge of where a work will do best.
Georg Baselitz Collection Management with MyPortfolio
In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.
Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jamieson, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.
