Rating and value of paintings, drawings and prints by Yves Tanguy

If you own a work by or based on the artist Yves Tanguy and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can help you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work of art, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price. 

Artist's rating and value

A great master of surrealism, Yves Tanguy made his mark on the art market at the beginning of the 20th century. The prices his works fetch under the auctioneer's hammer range from €90 to €5,247,720 - a considerable difference, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Yves Tanguy's works. In 2022, his oil on canvas Un grand tableau qui représente un paysage, dating from 1927, sold for €2,792,290, whereas it was estimated at between €2,493,110 and €3,490,350.

Order of value from simplest to most prestigious work

Artist's style and technique

Yves Tanguy is associated with the Surrealist movement, and his works have an undeniable stylistic kinship with those of Salvador Dali and Giorgio de Chirico. He produced prints, drawings and oils on canvas.

Yves Tanguy, forgotten surrealist

Yves Tanguy (1900-1955), was a Franco-American painter who produced Surrealist works.

He was born in Paris, in the Hôtel de la Marine, his father being a naval officer. He rubbed shoulders with artists early in his career, the first being Jacques Prévert, whom he met during his military service.

It was after discovering a painting by Giorgio de Chirico that he decided to become a painter himself, with the help of Pierre Matisse, son of Henri Matisse, who educated him artistically. He moved to a studio near Montparnasse, where, like Jean-Paul Riopelle, he carried out automatist experiments. Like Riopelle, he turned to Surrealism; André Breton even wrote about him.

He takes part in the Salon des Surindépendants with Surrealist painters.

After discovering Kay Sage, he decided to move to the United States, where the two artists married.

He died in Woodbury at the age of 55 of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Yves Tanguy's imprint on his era

Yves Tanguy succeeds in creating a unique style of painting that reflects the energy of his time, and makes unrestrained use of contrasts of form and color, the keystone of his artistic style.

The artist became a major player in the avant-garde, and the ensemble enabled him to develop his theory of contrasts, contrasting straight and curved lines, flat and modelled surfaces, while producing some remarkable works.

His signature

Although there are variations, here is a first example of its signature:

Appraising your property

If you happen to own a work by or after Yves Tanguy, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, and will ensure that you receive all the relevant information about it. If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends and specificities.