Edward Hopper Artwork Value | Prices, Originals vs Prints, How to Sell

At-a-glance: Edward Hopper

America's painter of solitude and light, Hopper created iconic images of urban isolation — and his market reflects extreme scarcity combined with intense collector demand.

Bio

Name: Edward Hopper
Years Active: 1900s–1967
Nationality: American

Style

American Realism. Cinematic light, quiet interiors, solitary figures, urban and coastal scenes rendered with psychological depth.

What to look for

Catalogue raisonné inclusion (Gail Levin), etchings 1915–1928 only, plate marks and period paper on prints, Whitney provenance documentation.

What Hopper works do people actually own?

Unlike Picasso or Warhol, Hopper created no lithographs or screenprints — only etchings early in his career. Most Hopper paintings are in museums. Understanding whether you have an original or reproduction is essential, as most "Hoppers" in private hands are decorative posters.

Reproduction posters and giclées — under $100
The vast majority of "Hopper" items in homes are museum reproductions of Nighthawks, Gas, or Morning Sun. These are decorative items with no collectible value regardless of framing quality. Nighthawks is in the Art Institute of Chicago and has never been sold.
Etchings (secondary subjects) — $5,000–$50,000
Hopper created approximately 70 etchings between 1915–1928, printed in small editions (limited to 100 impressions). Landscapes and lesser-known subjects fall in this range. Condition and impression quality significantly affect value.
Etchings (key subjects) — $50,000–$300,000+
Night Shadows, Evening Wind, East Side Interior, and The Lonely House are among the most sought-after. The auction record is approximately $260,000–$317,000 for The Lonely House (Swann Galleries, 2017). Urban and interior subjects command the highest prices.
Watercolors — $500,000–$10,000,000
Hopper's watercolors are highly valued original works, particularly coastal Maine scenes. These rarely appear at auction. Catalogue raisonné inclusion and provenance are essential for authentication.
Oil paintings — $5,000,000–$92,000,000
Authentic Hopper oil paintings are exceptionally rare outside museums — the Whitney holds the majority. His auction record is $91.9 million for Chop Suey (Christie's, 2018). When paintings appear, they generate intense international competition.

If you believe you have an original Hopper painting, expect extensive vetting and Levin catalogue verification. Upload your piece for a preliminary assessment.

How to verify Hopper authenticity

Authentication for Hopper relies on catalogue documentation and scholarly consensus. Before getting a valuation, gather these details:

Catalogue raisonné: Gail Levin's definitive four-volume catalogue (1995) documents all known Hopper works — inclusion is essential for any painting or watercolor claiming authenticity
Etchings only (1915–1928): Hopper created approximately 70 etchings, printed in small editions on his personal press. He never made lithographs or screenprints — any non-etching "Hopper print" is a reproduction
Plate marks and paper: Authentic etchings show clear plate marks (indentation from the printing plate) and period-appropriate paper. Compare impression quality to catalogue images
Whitney Museum holdings: The Whitney Museum of American Art holds the largest Hopper collection. Most important paintings are in institutions, not private hands
Provenance documentation: Given extreme rarity and high values, unbroken ownership history is essential for any claimed Hopper painting or major watercolor

Upload photos of the front, back, signature, and any provenance documentation for a preliminary assessment.

Get Free Valuation

Edward Hopper artwork FAQs

Start by checking Gail Levin's catalogue raisonné, the definitive four-volume reference published in 1995. For etchings, compare your print to documented catalogue images — examining paper, plate marks, impression quality, and signature. The Whitney Museum of American Art holds the largest Hopper collection and can be a resource for scholarly questions. For general guidance on distinguishing originals from reproductions, see our original vs print artwork guide.

Hopper created approximately 70 etchings between 1915–1928, printed in small editions (limited to 100 impressions per subject). These are original prints with plate marks, period paper, and hand-signed in pencil. Reproductions — posters, giclées, canvas prints — are photomechanical copies worth under $100 regardless of framing. Understanding this distinction is essential before getting a valuation.

Authentic Hopper etchings show clear plate marks (indentation from the printing plate), period-appropriate paper, and consistent impression quality. Hopper printed his own etchings on a personal press. Look for pencil signatures in the margin. Compare your impression to published catalogue images. A free appraisal can help assess authenticity markers before pursuing formal authentication.

Night Shadows, Evening Wind, and East Side Interior are among the most sought-after etchings. The record for a Hopper etching is approximately $260,000–$317,000 for The Lonely House (2017). Urban and interior subjects generally command higher prices than landscapes. Among American realist printmakers, Hopper's etchings rival Homer in collector demand.

For authenticated etchings, Christie's, Sotheby's, and Swann Galleries are appropriate venues. Swann specializes in American prints and has set multiple Hopper etching records. For pieces valued over $1,000, we can help connect you with the right channel — see our selling guide for more details.

Hopper signed his etchings in pencil in the margin below the plate mark. Signatures on reproductions are part of the reproduced image — printed, not hand-signed. Compare your signature to documented examples from the catalogue raisonné. Without catalogue inclusion and proper provenance, a signature alone proves nothing.

How to sell Edward Hopper artwork

Ready to sell your artwork? Here's the process for Hopper pieces at any value level.

1

Get a valuation

Upload photos and we'll determine if you have an original etching, a reproduction, or potentially a unique work. Each requires a different approach and realistic market expectations.

2

Verify authenticity if needed

For etchings, we'll compare your print to Levin catalogue images to confirm authenticity and assess condition. For potential paintings or watercolors, catalogue raisonné verification and scholarly review are essential.

3

Choose the right channel

Under $25K: American print specialists, regional auction houses.
$25K–$100K: Swann Galleries, Christie's or Sotheby's prints sales.
$100K+: Major auction house evening sales; private sale through specialist dealers.

4

Prepare documentation

Gather provenance records, catalogue raisonné reference, condition reports, and any prior appraisals. For etchings, impression quality and condition significantly affect value. Complete documentation accelerates sales.

Ready to get a free Edward Hopper valuation?

Upload photos of your artwork — front, back, signature, and any provenance documentation — and receive a research-backed estimate with guidance on authenticity, pricing, and selling options.