Most of us aren’t in the habit of purchasing art. And for some of us the thought may be just a bit intimidating, especially when the work of art is, oh, shall we say “expensive.” How do you now you’re investing your money wisely?
I can’t speak for other art media such as paintings, sculpture, etc. But I can offer three suggestions when purchasing fine art photography. Here are some things you should expect from a fine art photograph.
First, if photographs are not prepared correctly or, specifically, if the wrong materials are used, they are subject to fading. Now, this doesn’t apply to black and white photographs as much as it does for color. So you want to make sure that all the materials that went into the creation of the print are archival quality, or, to put it another way, museum quality.
That starts with the paper on which the photograph is printed and the inks used to print them. We don’t need to get into the technicalities of papers and inks here. Just the simple question, “Is the paper and ink archival quality?” should get you the information you need. With most high quality paper and ink combinations the photograph should not show any noticeable fading for at least 100 years, especially if it is protected behind UV blocking glass and displayed in a location that does not get direct sunlight.
The mat board in which the photograph is mounted should also be museum quality. Acid is used to make paper but residual acid will yellow the paper and can affect the photograph. Most mats are made from paper so they must be specially treated to be acid free.
Next, turning to the photograph itself, one should expect the highest level of workmanship in a fine art photograph. This topic can also get rather technical but it can be summarized by saying that every element in the photograph feels like it belongs, or stated another way, nothing feels out of place. Also, there should not be any distracting elements that draw attention away from the photograph’s subject. I know. This can be very subjective. But go with your gut. If something feels not quite right then chances are it isn’t.
Another thing to look for in this area is if the artist was in control of the entire creative process from capturing the image to printing, matting and framing it. If photographs are printed in labs they may not fully reflect the artist’s vision and intent. Which leads to the last point….
The last thing to look for is whether or not you love the image. Art is the expression of the artist’s interpretation of the world. It’s the medium through which the artist communicates his or her vision. In great art, the artist has a unique point of view that is expressed clearly and effectively. And this is why we bring art into our lives – to experience the world through the eyes of the artist. So if the work of art speaks to you, if you love it, then it’s for you.
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