Balthus Works on Paper: Auction Prices

French · 1908–2001

ArtSell has recorded 12 auction results for Balthus works on paper between 2012 and 2025, of which 6 sold (50% sell-through). Prices realised range from $2,250 to $43,750, with a median of $7,501 across 6 priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). A further 1 lot offered at auction whose result the house did not publish is listed but not counted. The highest recorded price is $43,750 for “Jeune Fille Lisant” at Phillips in 2016.

Record: Jeune Fille Lisant — $43,750Sign up free to see

Price chart & statistics for Balthus →

All works on paper results

1. 
   Portrait de Dora Maar, 1948/1949

   Drawing · Paper

   21 x 25 cm

   Kornfeld · Sep 11, 2025 · Lot 215
   CHF 6,000≈ $7,502≈ £5,552≈ €6,420HammerSign up free to seeEst. CHF 8,000–View at Kornfeld ↗
2. 
   Profil de Valérie Henchoz, 1980

   Watercolor · Paper

   26,6x31 cm

   Piguet Hôtel des Ventes · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 2677
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. CHF 6,000–8,000View at Piguet Hôtel des Ventes ↗
3. 
   La séance de pose, 1975

   Drawing · Paper

   55,5x42 cm

   Piguet Hôtel des Ventes · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 2678
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. CHF 10,000–15,000View at Piguet Hôtel des Ventes ↗
4. 
   Scène érotique - Étude de personnage

   Drawing · Paper

   44 x 32 cm

   Lempertz · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 146
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €7,000–9,000View at Lempertz ↗
5. 
   Ignudo (after Michelangelo), Circa 1937

   Drawing · Paper

   25.8 x 16.9 cm

   Lempertz · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 145
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €5,000–6,000View at Lempertz ↗
6. 
   L'Élèvement des Filles de Leucippe (copy after Rubens), Crica 1937

   Drawing · Paper

   25.9 x 17 cm

   Lempertz · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 144
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. €4,000–5,000View at Lempertz ↗
7. 
   Étude pour ‘Le Peintre et son modèle’, 1977

   Drawing · Paper

   70 x 100 cm (27 1/2 x 39 3/8 in.)

   Phillips · Oct 13, 2023 · Lot 27
   Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. £280,000–400,000View at Phillips ↗
8. 
   Untitled

   Drawing · Paper

   6½ h x 8½ w in (17 x 22 cm)

   Rago Auctions · Mar 25, 2020 · Lot 106
   $2,250≈ £1,902≈ €2,078Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $3,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
9. 
   Butterflying, c. 1940

   Drawing · Paper

   7 h x 8¾ w in (18 x 22 cm)

   Wright · Mar 12, 2020 · Lot 174
   $7,500≈ £5,913≈ €6,673Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $5,000–View at Wright ↗
10. 
    1908 - 2001 / Volto di donna

    Drawing · Paper

    31 x 23 cm

    Wannenes · Jun 6, 2019 · Lot 165
    Result not publishedEst. €4,000–6,000View at Wannenes ↗
11. 
    Jeune Fille Lisant, circa 1955

    Drawing · Paper

    14 x 18 3/8 in. (35.6 x 46.7 cm)

    Phillips · May 10, 2016 · Lot 168
    $43,750≈ £30,291≈ €38,462Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $40,000–60,000View at Phillips ↗
12. 
    Portrait de Filles et Personnages/Scene Erotique et Bouquet de Fleurs, c. 1930s

    Drawing · Paper

    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · May 17, 2015 · Lot 280
    $4,063≈ £2,594≈ €3,587Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
13. 
    Nu assis (Mlle Dr. H. Müller), 1928

    Drawing

    57,3 × 44,5 cm

    Grisebach · Jun 1, 2012 · Lot 311
    €9,760≈ $12,026≈ £7,857Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €8,000–10,000View at Grisebach ↗

Other media by Balthus

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