In the world of works on paper, knowing when to splurge, whom to trust, and what artist you’re interested in, can make all the difference. “Don’t assume every print is an edition. Rembrandt, Degas, Munch, Matisse, Picasso, and Warhol all made unique monotypes and monoprints,” advises Jenny Gibbs, the executive director of the International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA).
For this year’s Prints & Drawings Month, CULTURED asked seven enthusiasts from the IFPDA for their essential collecting do’s and don’ts, from avoiding costly conservation mistakes to developing an eye of your own. Along with their advice, they provide works from each of their galleries, spanning art world stars including Andy Warhol, Edvard Munch, Helen Frankenthaler, and more.
Rhonda Long-Sharp
Owner, Long-Sharp Gallery
Do?
Examine the front and back of the work before purchasing.
Don’t?
Don’t treat the acquisition like a small purchase on Amazon and just hit “buy.” Learn about the integrity and reputation of the gallery, dealer, auction house, or any seller. Who is speaking for the authenticity of the artwork and its condition is important.
John Szoke
Founder and Director, John Szoke Gallery
Do?
Don’t worry about what other people say. Go ahead and collect what you like. Over time, your taste and experience will form your collection.
Don’t?
Paper is very special and sensitive. Don’t mistreat or abuse your collection.
Dakota Sica
Principal and Owner, Leslie Feely
Do?
Spring for optimum museum plexiglass and top-notch archival framing. A lot of the value of works on paper is in the condition, so framing the work correctly from the start spares you condition issues later.
Don’t?
Don’t hang anything in a bathroom with a shower, and don’t put a work on paper in direct sunlight. Both can lead to major condition issues and changes in value. You will thank me later.
Brian R. Newman
Owner, the Old Print Shop
Do?
Buy because the object speaks to you in some way, shape, or form.
Don’t?
Don’t follow the current trend(s) without doing your own homework.
David Tunick
President, IFPDA Board, and President, David Tunick
Do?
Trust your eyes and your heart in choosing something that excites you, and focus on quality: a work as good as you can hope to find for sale, compared with other similar works. To determine that, especially if you’re just starting, pick your sources carefully. A highly respected dealer will have honesty, a good reputation, and considerable knowledge. To find one, do some digging on the internet, ask a curator in a museum print and drawing department (try the phone or email), or choose your sources through the foremost organization for works of art on paper, the International Fine Print Dealers Association.
Don’t?
Don’t hesitate to take the plunge when getting started if you follow the path above, and don’t hesitate to ask a dealer to justify a price.
William Shearburn
Founder, William Shearburn Gallery
Best advice on taste?
Pay up. Stretch. Buy the best example you can afford. Buy with your eyes, not with your ears. There is always a lot of chatter in the art world—tune it out, and trust your eye.
Don’t?
Don’t worry about future value.
Jenny Gibbs
Executive Director, IFPDA
Do: Focus on artists who were deeply committed to printmaking and whose work truly depends on ink, pressure, and paper: Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Degas, Louise Bourgeois, Julie Mehretu, and Kiki Smith. You can’t go wrong with their editions.
Don’t: Treat prints as just an entry point to the market. Warhol’s silkscreen Shot Sage Blue Marilyn sold for $195 million, the record for a 20th-century American artwork at auction. Also, don’t assume every print is an edition. Rembrandt, Degas, Munch, Matisse, Picasso, and Warhol all made unique monotypes and monoprints.
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