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In a world of
mass production
and imitation —
of repetitive
images
reproduced on
everything from
calendars to
coffee cups —
original works
of art remind us
of the
importance of
individual
expression and
craftsmanship.
Original works
of art possess a
physical
presence and
vitality that
posters lack.
Posters cannot
capture the
scale,
intensity,
color, texture,
and personal
"signature" of
an original
artwork.
The real deal
The question of
authenticity —
whether a work
of art really is
an original work
of art by a
particular
artist — is not
a question that
you have to
consider at
ArtSender.
To be sure,
authenticity is
an important
issue in the art
world. To take
advantage of a
thriving art
market, some
unscrupulous
individuals may
misrepresent a
student's work
as that of the
master, add a
signature to an
unsigned work,
or remove the
telltale signs
of a
reproduction and
pass it off as
an original.
Remember the
scandal many
years back of
Salvador Dali's
signature
appearing on
works that he
himself did not
create? At
ArtSender, every
work of art is
guaranteed to be
exactly what we
say it is.
This guarantee
is unconditional.
Originality
Originality is a
very complicated
topic, and is
the subject of
much heated
debate. For the
sake of clarity,
we have divided
the subject into
two topics:
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Spotting
posters
Many of us begin
our involvement
with art by
purchasing
posters. Often,
our first
posters are
reproductions of
a Monet,
Picasso, or Van
Gogh. But what
if it's not
obviously a
poster? How can
you tell?
Below are three
enlargements of
the same two
objects. Each
enlargement is
magnified more
than the last.
Now you can see
clearly the
difference
between the
original and the
reproduction.
The poster
reveals, at high
magnification,
the colored dot
pattern typical
of color
printing,
whereas the
original shows,
at any
magnification,
the brush
strokes of the
artist.
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Multiple
originals
A work of art
can be original
without being
unique. Multiple
originals allow
more people
access and
opportunity to
own an original
work of art by
his or her
favorite artist.
The number of
unique works
that an artist
can produce each
year is limited
— many will make
only a few
pieces a year.
And as an artist
gains
recognition and
demand for his
or her work
increases, so
does the price.
Multiple
originals allow
the artist the
ability to
create more work
in the same
amount of time
and at more
affordable
rates.
Multiple
originals are
typically
created from a
single source
plate, block, or
stone alongside
a master
printer. The
artist makes an
infinite number
of artistic
decisions and
judgments: how
much of what
inks should be
used, how the
plate should be
inked, how wet
the paper should
be, how much
pressure should
be applied to
pull the print,
etc. In a
multiple
original, the
artist created
the work
specifically for
that medium.
Variations on
a theme
Sometimes, an
artist will
choose to make
monoprints from
the same plate.
Take a look at
the images above
of two prints in
an edition by
Rupert Garcia.
In these two
pieces, the
artist has inked
the plate very
differently —
one lightly, and
the other
heavily. In
addition, he has
inked the yellow
and orange face
differently.
Both prints come
from the same
plate; both are
prints from the
same edition,
but each is
obviously
original.
True
originals are
true to their
vision
Originality is
the result of a
unique vision
and a gifted
artist
successfully
expressing him-
or herself. An
artist does not
have to use
entirely new
subject matter
or innovative
artistic methods
to be original;
like a great
poet who
combines
familiar words
in a
thought-provoking
way, an inspired
artist makes
recognizable
imagery like a
human body, a
house, or a tree
seem fresh and
evocative. If
the artist is
successful at
conveying his or
her inspiration,
then this
artist's style
will seem
original.
Obviously, the
struggle to be
true to an
artistic vision
is not an easy
one. Artists
spend their
entire lives
with this
struggle. Part
of the reward of
collecting art
is bearing
witness to and
supporting the
struggle of
artists whose
work conveys
inspiration to
you.
The artists
below work in
highly
individualistic
styles. Click on
any one you
like, and learn
about the piece.
Next:
Value — Why is
art expensive?
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