What is graph?

At Arthuis you are at the right address for graphic art. But what exactly is graphics and what should you pay attention to when buying graphics? We've listed the most important facts for you.

Prints

Graphics is a collective name for all kinds of art that is made by means of a printing technique. It is also known as printmaking. The images created by the printing technique are called prints (in English prints) or simply prints. Because the prints/prints are made with a printing technique, it is possible to repeat the printing process, which always creates the same print with the same image on it. Because of the reproducibility of the artwork, some people wrongly underestimate the value a print can have, but fortunately there are a few simple features that can prevent this.

Edition

One of those important factors that you can pay attention to to estimate the value of a print is the print run, also often referred to as edition. The print run/edition is the total number of prints with the same image. The artist determines how often the printing process is repeated, and thus how large the print run will be. This is very important because the print run can therefore be an important factor in determining the value of the work of art: the smaller the print run, the less, the more valuable the print/print. The artist often numbers the limited edition prints in the bottom left corner. This often looks like this:

This is the 161st numbered print of an edition of 300. The value of a print numbered 80/300 often does not differ from a print numbered 20/100 or 5/100. But when an artist makes an edition of, say, 30, the prints are rarer and therefore worth more than when the artist makes an edition of 300.

proofs

The edition is therefore usually indicated on the artwork. However, the actual circulation is usually larger than this number. That's because, in addition to the regular prints, artists often first make proofs. These proofs do not count in the print run. Sometimes the artist is still discovering what he/she likes best and what works best. These are often unique prints that differ from the edition. This also makes them worth more. These proofs are called trial proofs and are marked ' TP '.

Some prints bear the letters ' EP' (Épeuve d'Artiste) or ' AP ' (Artist Proof). This concerns a proof that is exactly the same as the numbered prints in the edition. These proofs have exactly the same quality but are not included in the print run. The number of APs cannot exceed 10% of the print run. Because of the limited supply, they are usually priced slightly higher than other prints.

In addition to the artist and signature, there is quite a bit to consider when determining the value of a work of art. The technique with which the print is made can also play a major role. Read more about screen prints, lithographs, etchings and woodcuts here.