Figure De Femme Accroupie A Droite © Andre Derain 1906
Andre Derain
9 works
Key Takeaways
Andre Derain's prints maintain consistent value, with Fauvist-period woodcuts from 1906-1910 typically achieving between £3,000 and £10,000. His book illustrations command particular attention, with the complete suite of L'Enchanteur Pourrissant woodcuts reaching £23,448 at auction. Authentication requires thorough examination of paper quality, particularly laid paper from French manufacturers, and reference to Michel Kellermann's catalogue raisonné. The presence of Vollard studio documentation or watermarks significantly enhances provenance. His black-and-white figurative works show particular strength, regularly exceeding estimates, while recent retrospectives at major institutions have stimulated renewed market interest. Prints combining bold technique with strong documentation achieve the most competitive results, with both early Fauvist works and later mature pieces attracting serious collectors.
As a leading figure of Fauvism, Andre Derain pioneered revolutionary approaches to colour and form in his paintings, yet his printmaking reveals an equally innovative spirit in monochrome. Through woodcuts and lithographs, he captured the essence of his subjects with bold, simplified forms and dramatic contrasts. His printed works demonstrate his masterful understanding of tone, sometimes reflecting his recognisably bold use of colour, but often proving that the limitations of black and white can be turned into powerful artistic advantages. This guide provides comprehensive information for sellers navigating the market for Derain's prints, offering insights into valuation, authentication, and effective selling strategies.
From his early experiments with woodcut in 1906 through to his later lithographs of the 1920s, Derain brought fresh energy to printmaking. His prints often focused on landscape subjects, particularly trees and rural scenes, rendered with the same revolutionary vision that characterised his paintings. Working closely with art dealer Ambroise Vollard, Derain produced some of his most significant print series, including illustrations for Guillaume Apollinaire's L'Enchanteur Pourrissant and a set of woodcuts depicting female figures.
How Much Do Andre Derain Prints Sell For?
The market for Derain's prints reflects his significance as a foundational figure of one of modern art’s most important movements. His woodcuts from the Fauvist period between 1906 and 1910 consistently achieve the highest prices, with individual prints selling for between £3,000 and £10,000, depending on rarity and condition. His later works, particularly from the 1920s and 1940s are popular for their colour and how they capture Derain’s matured artistic style.
The record sale of a Derain print suite occurred in 2000, when a collection of 32 woodcut print illustrations from 1909, designed to accompany Guillaume Apollinaire's L'Enchanteur Pourrissant, sold for £23,448 in Geneva. These prints, as well as having a strong narrative focus, are prime examples of Derain’s distinctive figurative style and the precise formation of shapes that is so apparent in his Fauvist work. Complete collections of these prints always achieve the highest prices; however, a sale of three L'Enchanteur Pourrissant prints sold for £3,349 in 2022, achieving over 10 times their pre-sale estimate.
More recent popular works include Bâteaux À Collioure (1920), a loose and colourful depiction of boats on the waterfront, which sold for £5,562 in 2017. Prints of other colourful works, such as his vast series of woodcuts, Pantagruel (1943), created to accompany the work of François Rabelais, and Bouquet De Fleurs Dans Un Vase (1940) also tend to fetch between £2,000 and £9,000 at auction; the latter achieved the highest price for an individual print by Derain in 1994, when it sold for £7,160. However, despite their colourful connections to Fauvist style, these works are not always Derain’s best-known prints. Instead, Derain’s black-and-white woodcuts and etchings of women, either as busts or full-figures, are some of his most consistently high performers. Figure De Femme Accroupie À Droite (1906), for example, sold in 2019 for £4,360, over twice its pre-sale estimate; and Baigneuse Nue Aux Arbres (1919) sold for £4,020 in 2016.
Recent market trends suggest growing appreciation for Derain's printmaking, particularly among collectors who recognise the technical sophistication of his woodcuts. The strong performance of both his early Fauvist-period prints and later works indicates a mature market that values both historical significance and artistic quality. Prints that combine his characteristic bold technique with well-documented provenance continue to achieve the strongest results at auction.
How Do You Authenticate An Andre Derain Print?
Derain prints that have been professionally authenticated and possess strong provenance are more likely to achieve top prices. Establishing provenance is the most important part of authentication, and requires thorough examination of any documentation related to ownership and exhibition history. Gallery receipts, exhibition catalogues, and certificates of authenticity from recognised experts help build a clear picture of the print's legitimacy.
Prints should also be examined physically, to ensure that materials and technique are in line with those expected from Derain and the period in his career in which they were made. Derain predominantly used high-quality laid papers for his woodcuts, particularly favouring papers from French manufacturers. Rives paper, for example, will often bear its own watermark.
The multi-volume catalogue raisonné by Michel Kellermann provides essential reference material for authentication, detailing Derain’s painted works, as well as many of his prints. Additionally, the archives of Ambroise Vollard, the renowned art dealer who commissioned Derain’s series of London paintings, are held at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris and contain valuable documentation about editions and printing specifications.
Edition and Signature
Derain typically signed his prints in pencil in the lower right margin, using a flowing signature characteristic of his hand. Many of his later prints, however, bear his signature as a stamp. Edition numbers, when present, usually appear in the lower left corner. Many of his early woodcuts, particularly those published by Vollard, were printed in small editions of 25 to 50, while his later works often appear in editions of 100.
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Has Your Andre Derain Print Been Kept In Good Condition?
The condition of a Derain print significantly influences its market value, with particular attention paid to the preservation of his bold, dramatic contrasts and precise linework. Superficial examination of the physical condition of your print will likely reveal any serious or light damage. The laid paper that Derain primarily used for his woodcut prints, while generally robust, can be susceptible to foxing and acid burn over time. The laid lines in the paper should remain visible when held to light, as these are integral to the print's authenticity. The richness of the black inks Derain favoured for his woodcuts should be intact, with any loss of density diminishing the print’s visual impact and value. Exposure to direct sunlight or harsh artificial light can quickly cause these inks to fade and the paper to yellow. Any blurring of the sharp lines and contrasts, or warping of the paper itself, can indicate past water damage.
For proper preservation, prints should be stored in acid-free environments, ideally in flat portfolios away from fluctuating humidity. If framed, UV-protective glass and acid-free mounting materials are essential. Regular inspection by a qualified conservator can help identify any developing condition issues before they become serious problems.
For advice on how to get started with condition assessment of your Andre Derain print, contact MyArtBroker.
When Is The Best Time To Sell My Andre Derain Print?
The optimum time to sell your Derain print will be influenced by several factors, including cyclical and irregular market trends, cultural events, and notable sales of original works. The market for early modern French prints has shown particular strength in recent years, with Derain's work benefiting from renewed interest in Fauvism and early 20th century Modernism.
Major exhibitions often spark increased collector interest. The 2017 retrospective, titled Derain, Balthus, Giacometti: An Artistic Friendship at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris generated significant attention for all three featured artists, leading to several strong print sales in the following months. This event coincided with an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou that focused on Derain's early radical period. Together, these exhibitions prompted a notable uptick in print sales and value, including the estimate-exceeding £5,562 sale of Bâteaux À Collioure (1920).
Spring and autumn traditionally see the strongest sales activity, particularly around major art fairs and auctions in London and Paris. However, private sales through established brokers can proceed successfully year-round. Trends outside the cyclical art market can be easily monitored on the websites of renowned auction houses - value trajectory reports and auction sales results can reveal surges in popularity for certain periods of Derain’s 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.
Where Can I Sell My Andre Derain Print?
Selling An Andre Derain Via A Broker
Art brokers specialising in early modern prints can provide a more personalised approach to selling Derain's work. These professionals often maintain networks of collectors specifically interested in French Modernism and can facilitate private sales with greater discretion than public auctions. Their targeted approach might prove particularly effective for Derain's more specialist prints, such as his book illustrations or experimental pieces. Working with a broker typically involves lower fees than auction houses, generally ranging from 10% to 20%. The private nature of these sales can help protect market values, regardless of the final price achieved. Brokers can also provide valuable insights into current market conditions and handle complex logistics such as transportation and insurance.
Selling An Andre Derain Via Auction House
Leading auction houses regularly feature Derain's prints in their Modern Art sales, providing access to informed collectors who understand his historical significance. Houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's excel at contextualising Derain's work within the broader narrative of early Modernism, potentially attracting serious collectors who specifically seek Fauvist-period prints. Their extensive marketing efforts and international reach can generate competitive bidding for rare or particularly fine impressions. The auction route, however, carries substantial fees, typically reaching 25% of the hammer price. Sellers must also consider the unpredictable nature of public sales, where results can vary significantly based on factors beyond their control. Should a print fail to meet its reserve price, the unsuccessful sale could impact its future market value. Additionally, auction schedules are inflexible, often requiring sellers to wait for appropriate themed sales that might best showcase their Derain print.
To learn more, read our guide to Auction v Private Sale in the Art Market.
Selling An Andre Derain Via Online Marketplace
Online platforms have transformed the art market, yet they present unique challenges for selling valuable early modern prints. While these venues might offer quick sales with lower fees, they often lack the specialist expertise needed to properly authenticate and value Derain's work, which doesn’t inspire confidence in many collectors. The absence of in-person viewing opportunities can deter serious collectors, particularly for higher-value prints. If considering an online sale, choose specialised fine art platforms with robust verification processes and experience handling early 20th century prints. Standard online marketplaces, while accessible, might not attract the type of informed collector likely to pay appropriate prices for Derain's work.
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When it comes to selling artwork, achieving the best price hinges on accessing a niche market with an established collector community. If you're looking to sell a print, turning to a specialist in the print market, like MyArtBroker, yields superior results compared to approaching an auction house, which caters to broader categories of artwork.
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Andre Derain 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.
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