Fine art photography: a primer
Interested in starting a photographs collection? We consider the three questions faced by buyers new to the art form
James Welling (b. 1951), H1, 2005. Chromogenic print, in artist’s frame. This work is number one from an edition of five plus two artist’s proofs. Image: 93.5 x137 cm. Overall: 128.5 x 170.5 cm. Sold for €8,820 on 3 October 2024 at Christie’s Online
How do I know when a photograph was printed?
Photographic prints are not necessarily created at the time the image is taken. The term ‘vintage’ refers to a photograph that was printed at, or near to, the time the exposure was made. Although the word appears frequently in discussions around a work, Christie’s does not use it in its cataloguing. The medium is included, however, to indicate whether the print was made in a manner in keeping with the artist’s practice around the time the image was taken.
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Massimo Vitali (b. 1944), Rosignano Solvay Black, 1995. Chromogenic print, Diasec mounted on Plexiglas. This work is number five from an edition of nine. Image: 150 x 191 cm. Overall: 180 x 221 cm. Sold for €21,420 on 3 October 2024 at Christie’s Online
If a photograph has been printed some time after the date of the original image, this is most commonly indicated in the cataloguing by the phrase ‘printed later’. Where possible, the aim is to be specific: for example, you may find works listed as ‘printed 1960s’ or ‘printed circa 1968’ in Christie’s cataloguing.
Is it possible to know how many prints of an photograph exist?
The answer to this depends entirely on the artist in question. Some photographers, or their estates, have good records of this information; for others, it does not exist.
Where a photograph is numbered from an edition, this is a great indicator, since editions specify the number of prints of a given image in a particular size. It is more typical for contemporary photographs to come from an edition than older prints.
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Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989), Bread, 1979. Gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on board. This work is number two from an edition of ten plus two artist’s proofs. Image: 35.5 x 35.5 cm. Sheet: 50.5 x 40.5 cm. Sold for €6,300 on 3 October 2024 at Christie’s Online
If it is not specified in the cataloguing, consult a Photographs specialist, who will use their knowledge of the photographer’s practice to offer advice on how many prints may exist.
Does the condition of a print affect its value?
The condition of a photograph generally affects the overall value of the work, but not always. In prints from the early, experimental days of photography, for instance, condition issues are to be expected given the age of the works and the fact that the process was not yet fully developed. By contrast, contemporary photographs may be expected to be in much better condition.
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Andreas Gursky (b. 1955), Untitled II, 1993. Chromogenic print, Diasec mounted, in artist’s frame. Signed, titled, numbered and dated ‘O.T II 1993 3/5 A. Gursky’ (on the backing). This work is number three from an edition of five. Image: 140 x 178 cm. Overall: 180 x 216 cm. Sold for €47,880 on 3 October 2024 at Christie’s Online
Press prints, by their nature, will have been handled more than fine-art prints because of their use for disseminating information, which explains why they may have more creases.
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But any issues regarding condition should be considered in light of their overall impact on the image, and indeed whether any imperfections are visible at a distance.
The Proximus Art Collection: Selected Works, is open for bidding online until 3 October 2024. A pre-sale view of the works will be held until 28 September, between 11am and 5pm, at the Proximus Art Collection Warehouse in Brussels (Rue du Canon 31, 1000 Brussels, Belgium). Book a time slot here