Pictures: Prints, Engravings, Lithographs & Works on Paper
"Pictures" in the antiques trade broadly encompasses works of art on paper -- original prints, engravings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, silkscreens, watercolors, and drawings, as distinct from oil paintings on canvas. This category spans from 15th-century woodcuts and 16th-century copper engravings through Currier & Ives lithographs, Japanese woodblock prints, and 20th-century fine art prints. Understanding the distinction between original prints (where the artist created the printing matrix) and reproductive prints (copies of other artworks) is fundamental to valuation.
Categories & Techniques
Relief Printing
- Woodcut: Image carved from a wood block; the oldest printmaking technique
- Wood engraving: Uses end-grain boxwood for finer detail than woodcut
- Linocut: Modern variant using linoleum; bold, graphic results
Intaglio
- Engraving: Lines cut into a metal plate with a burin; fine parallel lines characterize the technique
- Etching: Lines drawn through an acid-resistant ground; acid bites the lines; more fluid than engraving
- Mezzotint: Tonal technique producing rich darks; used extensively for portrait reproductions
- Aquatint: Tonal etching technique; often combined with line etching for varied effects
Planographic
- Lithograph: Image drawn on stone or plate with greasy crayon; allows painterly effects
- Chromolithograph: Color lithograph using multiple stones; popular for decorative prints 1840s-1920s
- Screenprint/silkscreen: Ink forced through a stencil on mesh; dominant technique for pop art prints
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currier & Ives (small folio) | $50 | $200 | $1,000 |
| Currier & Ives (large folio) | $500 | $3,000 | $30,000+ |
| Botanical print (hand-colored) | $20 | $100 | $500 |
| Japanese woodblock (Hiroshige) | $200 | $2,000 | $50,000+ |
| Audubon bird print (Havell) | $1,000 | $10,000 | $200,000+ |
| Warhol screenprint (signed) | $5,000 | $30,000 | $500,000+ |
| Durer woodcut or engraving | $1,000 | $10,000 | $500,000+ |
Condition Factors
- Foxing (brown spots from mold) is the most common issue in works on paper; light foxing is tolerable, heavy foxing significantly reduces value
- Margins must be original and full; trimmed margins dramatically reduce value on fine prints
- Laid down (mounted to cardboard or backing) reduces value by 30-50%; unmounted, loose sheets are preferred
- Toning from acidic mats or exposure is common; professional conservation can sometimes improve this
- Check for tears, creases, and wormholes, especially in older prints
- Print impression quality varies: early impressions from a fresh plate are sharper and more valuable than later, worn impressions
Collecting Tips
- Learn to distinguish original prints from reproductions: original prints show plate marks (intaglio), stone texture (lithographs), or ink deposit characteristics visible under magnification
- Currier & Ives is the most widely collected American print firm; large folios depicting hunting, racing, and winter scenes bring the highest prices
- Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) are a major international market with dedicated auction sales
- Edition size and numbering matter: smaller editions and artist's proofs are more valuable
- Proper framing with acid-free mats and UV-protective glazing is essential for preservation
- Botanical and natural history prints (Audubon, Redoute, Curtis) have strong decorative appeal and a dedicated collector base