Beware of Fakes: Learn the Secrets of Buying Original Art Prints

Beware of Fakes: Learn the Secrets of Buying Original Art Prints

Art prints are the new dawn in the world of art. They have flooded the market and one can find them anywhere and everywhere. Under no circumstances are the popularity of paintings being questioned. They are and will always remain an indispensable part of the world of art. However, by means of this article we will be highlighting the increasing demand for the art prints.

As the technology is growing by leaps and bounds, it has made a significant impact in the art world as well. The influential presence of the virtual world has led to the emergence of art galleries which are operating in the cyberspace. These galleries have made it even more affordable to acquire art prints online. As people are getting beautiful pieces of art at economical prices, this fact is spreading like wild fire and as a result more and more people are interested in buying canvas prints.

When it comes to acquiring art prints online, interior designers are leading the race. Thanks to the vast variety and affordability being offered by beautiful canvas prints, they are becoming the pieces that interior designers swear by. Collecting the original art prints created by famous artists is the thing presently in vogue and people are looking forward to collecting them, just like any other piece of art. Their affordability is their biggest strength. But, there are a lot of fakes also which are present in the market. If you’re new to the world of collecting art prints, then here are our top tips which will help save you from making a costly mistake.

Check the print with a magnifying glass: In today’s technologically driven world, one can find a great variety of art prints online.

Amidst such great options it can get a little bit difficult to find the original piece. So how can you save yourself from committing a great mistake? Well, one of the easiest ways is by means of magnifying glass or jeweller’s loupe.

Just take your magnifying glass and take a good look at the print. If you are able to see the image getting broken down into hundreds of tiny dots, then you can be sure that it is a photo-offset lithograph i.e. a reproduction.

Any printer will be able to give you a similar result. A genuine stone lithograph will appear solid even when you look at it through the sharp eyes of a magnifying glass.

Look beyond the certificate of authenticity: You might assume that a certificate of authenticity is the solid proof of the originality of art prints. However, this certificate’s authenticity is highly questionable as one can easily print them up. You need to be extra cautious about these while purchasing art prints online. If you are really looking forward to useful proofs of authentication, then you must go for things which are provided by the actual publisher.

Colophon and Justification de Tirage are two of such documents. You can find the publisher’s colophon in almost all original art prints belonging to the twentieth century.

This will give you clear details as to when, where and by whom were they published.

Cross check the size of the print against the one mentioned in documents: The measurements of an art print say a lot about it. All the measurements of well-known art prints are recorded in the catalogue raisonnĂŠ. If the measurements mentioned in the document match with the print in hand, then you can be rest assured about its originality. Under no condition is it possible that the size of the print changed. In order to know this, you can have a thorough look at the auction records and can compare it to the art print which you are eyeing on. If you are able to find any kind of disparity, then you must not buy it.

Don’t rush behind the artist’s signature: There is no denial to the fact that a print signed by the artist is way more worthy than its unsigned counterpart. In order to gain that stamp of artist’s signature, many people do the foolishness of getting forged signatures on their genuine prints. You need to pay special attention while buying original art prints online of the A-list artists like Picasso and Matisse. One good way of saving oneself from being cheated upon is by checking the number on canvas prints. If a print is numbered as 28/100 but the document mentions that the edition was limited to 50, then you know it isn’t real.

Before making the final purchase decision, look out for a better deal: Today’s world is driven by the internet and this gives you fairly enough chances to look for the best deals. Don’t pay the money straight away, in fact, wait and hunt down the various locations which are selling similar pieces. Once you start checking online then you will get surprised regarding the price variations. However, one thing which needs to be mentioned here is the measurements of the print. You need to check that the measurement is the same as what you are looking for. You need to know that art prints are always issued in multiples and artists create several pieces along the same theme. Therefore, before paying you must always look for better deals.

Remember that research is the key here. You need to research a lot before purchasing original art prints online. An eagle’s eye along backed by a strong knowledge of canvas prints can help you take the best decision while staying away from the fake pieces.