Purchasing Original Fine Art Prints

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When Purchasing Original Fine Art Prints...

By Eric Travers - Fine Art Columnist

One of the most common questions that I have heard from prospective purchasers of fine art prints is, "is this print an original?" First of all, anything that is reproduced is not original, hence the word "reproduction." A print is a reproduction, a copy of another unique work of art (watercolor, oil painting etc.) that is one of a kind.

Ah, but here is where the fun begins. There are many disagreements among "experts" as to what constitutes an "original art print," a common term used in the last few decades. These disagreements are further complicated by the laws of different countries, which also vary in the criteria they use to determine what they feel constitutes an original fine art print. The disagreements stem from how much (or how little) the artist himself was directly involved in the printmaking process. The arguments go on and on and it would take pages and pages to go over them all. But for the sake of this article, we will concern ourselves with the importance of the print for you the purchaser, the collector.

Whatever motivates you into collecting prints, remember the aphorism of Francis Bacon, "knowledge is power." The more knowledgeable you become, the more confident you will be in your decisions when purchasing an original fine art print. You can train your eye by going to galleries, museums etc. When you are there, try to gather as much information as you can on the artist, the medium, any relevant facts so as to increase your knowledge on the subject. Your time will pay off in every sense of the word!

I believe that first and foremost when looking to purchase an original fine art print is how you answer the question "do I love it?" Since most prints are purchased to be placed in the home or office, enjoyment of the artwork is paramount. Secondly (especially if it was costly) will be the investment perspective of the print (this is where the "originality" question comes into play).

Added into this potpourri we will now explore the third ingredient, the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) issued by the publisher, which often accompanies the print. Many original art prints are sold with these pieces of paper, and I emphasize "pieces of paper." The true purpose of this certificate is to provide the perspective buyer with an accurate description of the accompanied print (the dimensions, the medium, the edition etc.). The COA allows you, the buyer, to do your own research on the print.

The COA is only as good as the print itself, therefore you must look at the artwork; that is what is more important. If the print is a fake, the COA will also be fake; it is that simple. If you are told from someone that the COA is a fake, but they have not examined the print, then they are novices. As a buyer you must carefully examine the print to see that it matches what is on the COA to determine any discrepancies. In conclusion, I think it is clear that the integral key to purchasing fine art prints is to always remember the Latin phrase, "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) and happy hunting!



Editor's Note: This article should interest investors in Sotheby's (NYSE: BID), Compass Emp Alternative Investment (Nasdaq: CAICX), Compass Emp Alternative Investment I (Nasdaq: CAITX), Compass Emb Alternative Investment II (Nasdaq: CAIAX), Blink Couture (OTC: BLKU.OB), Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF), Christie Group Plc (OTC: CRUPF.PK), Alternative Investment (OTC: AVSTF.PK), Collector's Universe (Nasdaq: CLCT), Collectible Concepts (Nasdaq: CCNG), Boyds Collection (OTC: BYDC.PK), Collection House (OTC: CLHSF.PK), Mowbray Collectables (NZSE: MOW.NZ), Collectors Universe (Berlin: CUJ1.BE), Zale (NYSE: ZLC), Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG), Birks & Mayors (NYSE: BMJ), DGSE Cos. (Nasdaq: DGSE), Blue Nile (Nasdaq: NILE).

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