By Gina Fraone

Fine art prints occupy a somewhat odd place in the art market. Because a print is usually something that can be created in multiples, that can lead some folks to conclude that prints are not to be taken as seriously as other artworks, like paintings and drawings. But to the aficionado, fine art prints are held to the same aesthetic criteria as any other art object. Is the technique used to create the object well executed? Is the composition fresh, inventive or timeless? Is the subject of the picture engaging?

Besides there being more than one of the same print, collectors some- times get hung up the idea that the artist may have played only a part in the creation of the print. It bothers some that technicians may have been involved in carrying out the actual printing process. (Of course, some artists handle every aspect of their printing, particularly artists who create digital prints.) Personally, I don’t find this a compelling argument in relation to other forms of art-making. Even when creating unique works of art, artists will often employ skilled assistants and technicians to finish a work or a piece, whether it’s painting the background of a large canvas or casting a sculpture in bronze. The goal is to always make the finest finished product possible.