Are Art Prints Replicas of Painted Artwork? Understanding the True Value of Fine Art Prints
Contents
1. Understanding Art Prints: More Than Just Copies2. Value and Investment Potential
3. Value on Quality: What Constitutes a Great Art Print
4. Future of Art Prints and Collecting
Understanding Art Prints: More Than Just Copies
The myth usually perpetuated about prints is that they are lesser copies of an artwork. In actual sense, they are valuable pieces-elaborately made and reformed in the manner we think about and collect art today. In recent years, working with major artists and printmakers, I have watched art prints transition from simple reproductions to highly valuable works which stand their ground within major collections right next to an original work.
Value and Investment Potential
The modern art print market has changed dramatically in the last ten years, driven by rapid technological advancements and changing tastes among collectors. Contemporarily created fine art prints reproduce even the subtlest details of the original with astounding accuracy-from subtle gradation of watercolor to richly layered textures in oil painting. Such control over media, combined with sensitive curation and limited editions, has created a strong market in which the art print commands considerable respect and value.
Think about that: whereas an original might sell for tens of thousands, museum-quality prints of art make ownership of art by a collector's favorite artist reach a lot more decent price levels. It is not a question of second best, but one that democratizes art ownership without compromising on artistic integrity. I have witnessed the appreciation of limited edition prints in value to a significant degree, especially when an artist is keen on the quality and quantity produced.
Printing today is a highly refined art: Professional printmakers work in close liaison with the artist to ensure that all the details are faultlessly captured. Color matching now becomes a precise science, while the choosing of paper becomes an art in itself, and quality control achieves perfection that would be envied by any perfectionist. This rigorous commitment to the craft now means that art prints made today are often finer and far longer-lasting than their ancient counterparts.
Value on Quality: What Constitutes a Great Art Print
What is the value in art prints worth? It comprises the following:
-Archival-quality materials secured on a long-lasting durability.
-Limited edition numbers that keep a brand exclusive
-Artist involvement in the production process
- Technical quality of reproduction
Less naively, collectors' sense of fine art prints has evolved to recognize that any print is an expression of artistry matched with skill. In fact, some collectors prefer prints over originals in the case of prints which enhance salient features of the work in question. For myself, I've seen a number of collections that blend prints and originals together quite nicely, each treasured for its own individual worth.
Future of Art Prints and Collecting
The future of art prints is ever exciting. New printing technologies keep expanding the possibilities, while other techniques retain the unique character that made them so great. More and more often, the artist now creates work with print reproduction in mind, even taking into consideration how different techniques will enhance his artistic expression. Thus, with every turn, the boundaries of what is possible in art prints are pushed ever further.
Appreciating the art prints, be it for the collector or the enthusiastic onlookers, their doubleness is reproductions, yet original in their art. While considering art prints, one must know that:
- Size of edition and numbering
- Print quality and materials used
- Signature and artist participation
- Gallery or publisher reputation
- Documentation and authenticity
The investment in art prints remains healthy. The limited edition prints of beginning artists often multiply in value as their careers progress. I've watched as prints that were sold for a few hundred dollars then at auction went for thousands of dollars, particularly if they were part of highly documented, limited sets.
Indeed, the market for art prints is a very exciting platform from which collectors and artists alike can benefit. To collectors, it opens impressions of museum quality and investment returns, while to the artists, it opens up opportunities for increased exposure to the public while maintaining artistic integrity and a means of further income.
Pro Tip: If it's worth building a collection, think about technical ability combined with an artistic view while selecting an art print. Go for limited edition prints whose authenticity is well-documented, and be sure to ask about the printing method used and on what media. Great collections are based on facts as much as on taste.
Remember that the process of collecting art prints becomes much more than a search for surrogates for original pieces but rather about enjoying a unique art form that merges artistic vision with technical know-how. For both seasoned collectors and those beginning their artistic journey, understanding the true value of art prints opens up exciting possibilities in the world of art.
