A Seller’s Guide to Willem de Kooning

De Kooning's approach to printmaking was as innovative and experimental as his painting practice. He only ever created one aquatint, Revenge (1960), which was also the first print he made. He began exploring lithography shortly after, producing works that translated his energetic brushstrokes and complex compositions into print form. His prints often feature the same themes as his paintings, including abstract landscapes, fragmented figures, and his iconic Woman series.

Throughout his career, de Kooning collaborated with several renowned print studios and publishing houses, including Hirschl & Adler Galleries and the Hollander Workshop in New York. These partnerships resulted in some of his most coveted print series, including The Preacher (1971) lithograph and Valentine (1971).

The market for Willem de Kooning's prints reflects his status as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Prices for his prints have remained steady in recent years, and vary based on factors such as rarity, condition, and the specific series to which a print belongs. Typically, individual prints by de Kooning fetch between £5,000 and £50,000, though prints have been known to sell for over six times this value.

The record price achieved by a de Kooning print at auction was set in March 2024: £355,572 for Litho #2 (Waves #2) (1960). The popularity of this piece comes from its expressive monochromatic brushstrokes, its status as a classic example of de Kooning’s earlier work and his collaboration with Irwin Hollander, and the fact that it is limited to an edition of only nine. Similarly, the second-highest price achieved by a de Kooning print at auction is held by Litho #1 (Waves #1) (1960).

An incredibly popular series by de Kooning is his Quatre Lithographies from 1986, which often sell for £20,000 to £30,000 per print. These later works, created when de Kooning was in his 80s, are prized for their simplified forms and bold use of colour, reflecting the artist's late style. Complete sets of Quatre Lithographies have sold for over £100,000, with a record of £153,440 set in April 2019.

Other popular prints include Wah Kee Spare Ribs (1971), which sold for £72,274 in April 2023, and Figures in Landscape VI (1980), which sold for £18,140 in October 2023. Owners of Valentine (1970) prints, The Man And The Big Blonde (1982), and Landscape At Stanton Street (1971) can expect to sell their prints for between £10,000 and £15,000.

Authenticating a Willem de Kooning print begins with establishing its provenance and tracing its history of ownership and exhibition. Any documentation, such as certificates of authenticity, gallery receipts, stamps from print studios, or correspondence with the artist's estate or foundation, can be invaluable in establishing legitimacy.

Technical analysis is crucial in the authentication process. This involves examining the paper quality, ink composition, and printing technique. The printing process, whether lithography, etching, or another method, should be consistent with de Kooning's known practices for the period in which the print was produced. In the 1960s, for example, while printing at the University of California, de Kooning created his lithographs using lithographic stones that were almost four feet high. De Kooning was also known to layer ink and scrape the surface of his prints, which will leave traces that can be identified by experts in de Kooning’s work.

There is no single comprehensive catalogue raisonné for de Kooning's prints as his body of work is still an area of active scholarship, but several important resources exist. The Willem de Kooning Foundation maintains extensive records and can be consulted for authentication inquiries. Additionally, catalogues from major retrospectives, such as the Museum of Modern Art's 2011-2012 retrospective, provide valuable reference material.

Edition & Signature

De Kooning's approach to signing and numbering his prints evolved over time. In his earlier prints, he often signed and dated in pencil on the front of the sheet, typically in the lower right corner - this would appear as “De Kooning ‘60,” for example. Later prints may be signed on the reverse. His signature is generally clear and distinctive, though it can vary slightly over the years.

Edition sizes for de Kooning's prints varied widely. Some of his most famous series, like the Quatre Lithographies, were produced in editions of 50, while other works were made in smaller numbers.

Browse Willem de Kooning prints on the Trading Floor and find out more about the print market growth on the MAB100 Print Index.

Looking to Sell Your Willem de Kooning Prints?

Request a free and zero obligation valuation with our team without hesitation. Track your prints & editions with MyPortfolio.

Timing the sale of a Willem De Kooning print requires careful consideration of market trends, cultural events, and ongoing scholarship related to the artist's work. De Kooning's market has shown steady strength over the decades, but there are certain periods when interest and values may peak.

Major exhibitions or retrospectives of De Kooning's work often generate increased interest and media coverage, potentially driving up demand and prices for his prints. For example, the record price achieved by litho #2 (waves #2) (1960), coincided with De Kooning’s sculptural display at the 60th international Art Biennale in Venice. The comprehensive retrospective at the museum of modern art in New York in 2011-2012 had a similar effect.

Anniversary years related to significant moments in De Kooning's career can also create opportune selling moments. For instance, the 25th anniversary of his death in 2022 was followed by more than eight print sales of over £80,000.

Surges of interest in abstract expressionism or post-war American art can suggest high demand on the print market, as can the release of new scholarly resources, such as finalised catalogues raisonnés or major biographies.

We recommend monitoring the sales results and market reports of major auction houses and galleries, as they can provide the most up-to-date insights into which series or periods of De Kooning's work are currently in highest demand. For instance, if there's a surge of interest in De Kooning's late works, it might be an opportune time to sell prints from the 1980s.

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.

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.

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.