diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index 3b531f868254..8397d7d334f3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -1347,7 +1347,7 @@ def __init__(self, axes, prop_name, add_name,
             )
 
         def __repr__(self):
-            return f'<Axes.ArtistList of {self._prop_name}>'
+            return f'<Axes.ArtistList of {len(self)} {self._prop_name}>'
 
         def __len__(self):
             return sum(self._type_check(artist)