Main Focus

After our auction house was founded in 1986, we quickly established ourselves as the highest-revenue German auction house for modern art. The most expensive artwork ever sold at a German auction to date is Max Beckmann's mysterious “Ägypterin”, sold at Grisebach in Spring 2018 for 5.5m euros.

Sensational results were not limited to the works of prominent artists such as Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, Emil Nolde, Max Pechstein, Otto Mueller, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Hofer or Lyonel Feininger (whose “Gelbe Gasse” went for 3.6m euros in the autumn of 2016). Supposed outsiders whose work has gained new appreciation at Grisebach have also reached new heights. For example, the Cologne Progressive Anton Räderscheidt’s 1921 painting “Haus Nr. 9,” an icon of New Objectivity, fetched EUR 865,000 at Grisebach in the fall of 2016.

23.2 million euros for Max Beckmann: world record for Grisebach

On 1 December 2022, Grisebach made art market history: at a sensational 23.2 million euros, Max Beckmann's outstanding "Selbstbildnis gelb-rosa" achieved the highest hammer price in the history of an auction in Germany at Grisebach - the highest price worldwide for a self-portrait by the artist and thus the second-highest price ever for a work of art by Beckmann. A bidder from Switzerland successfully prevailed against bids from five countries.

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Order the Max Beckmann oeuvre catalogues "The Watercolours and Pastels" and "The Paintings", published by the Kaldewei Kulturstiftung, here.

Our next Modern Art auctions will take place on 4 and 5 June 2026.

We will be happy to appraise your art in confidence, without obligation and free of charge. For an initial appraisal, please send us an image of the artwork by post or email, including details such as medium/material, year of creation and (unframed) dimensions. Alternatively, you can use our convenient online consignment form.

Do you have any questions or would you like personal advice? Give us a call or write to us – we look forward to hearing from you.