Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 10:03:22 am
No digital photography at that time.
I was chatting with the curator when a potential buyer came to where we were sitting and asked for the price of one of the prints.
The curator named the price. Then the man asked "to how many is this picture limited? I see the signature but not the limit" (Say 3/20 or the like)
"No limit"
"Ah no, then it is too expensive.."
He didn't buy.
I can understand the limitations and the numbering of the copy when talking of lithographies for example.
But in photography? Even in the wet times where copies were not identical it seems to me a kind of snobbery...
And being prepared to pay more just to belong to the small circle of owners...
Any opinions?
Post by: RSL on November 28, 2018, 10:14:35 am
Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 10:18:35 am
... and since you learn as you proceed with the print run, the fiftieth print may be better than the first.How true
Post by: elliot_n on November 28, 2018, 10:30:37 am
But, yes, it's silly.
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 28, 2018, 10:40:13 am
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 28, 2018, 10:43:26 am
... And being prepared to pay more just to belong to the small circle of owners...
One of those questions where if you need to ask, you do not need to know (i.e., you wouldn't understand the answer).
Post by: KLaban on November 28, 2018, 10:47:43 am
Some time ago a gallery was exhibiting the works of a well known french photographer.
No digital photography at that time.
I was chatting with the curator when a potential buyer came to where we were sitting and asked for the price of one of the prints.
The curator named the price. Then the man asked "to how many is this picture limited? I see the signature but not the limit" (Say 3/20 or the like)
"No limit"
"Ah no, then it is too expensive.."
He didn't buy.
I can understand the limitations and the numbering of the copy when talking of lithographies for example.
But in photography? Even in the wet times where copies were not identical it seems to me a kind of snobbery...
And being prepared to pay more just to belong to the small circle of owners...
Any opinions?
The example you give is clearly not a limited edition.
Limiting the edition is a perfectly valid marketing strategy: like it or not.
Post by: petermfiore on November 28, 2018, 10:52:16 am
The example you give is clearly not a limited edition.
Limiting the edition is a perfectly valid marketing strategy: like it or not.
Exactly. The afore mentioned example is known as an open edition.
Peter
Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 11:32:03 am
The example you give is clearly not a limited edition.Yes you are right
Limiting the edition is a perfectly valid marketing strategy: like it or not.
But the topic here is about art, not marketing.
Marketing:
"They...brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned...They would make fine servants...With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want. " (C.Columbus)
"...And such was the joy and pleasure that these simple people got from the trifles that they returned the next day loaded with gold jewels, turkeys...and in exchange for everything they took only a few strings of beads and needles and ribbons (Hernan Cortes)."
"and they wanted a signature on the piece of "art" and paid generously for it, and it was promised that there would be not more than 200 copies of it... " (Rabanito - Life of the Artists) ;D ;D
Isn't that similar what happens to such buyers? Giving dollars for trifles?
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 28, 2018, 11:37:38 am
... Giving dollars for trifles?
Those were not trifles for them.
Post by: KLaban on November 28, 2018, 11:47:39 am
Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 02:10:12 pm
Doing funny things in which we don't believe like limiting the numbers of copies because the buyers want it to be so?
I think I recall an essay by Robert Adams on critics an criticism - in a parallel line.
I lent the book to somebody and the poor thing never came back :-(
Post by: RSL on November 28, 2018, 02:25:28 pm
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2018, 02:36:32 pm
It's a tough world out there, especially trying to sell something nobody actually needs.
Rob
Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 02:40:58 pm
Hi Rab, Looks as if nobody welcomed you to LuLa. Welcome. Are you going to show us some of your own work? Where are you?
Hi Russ Thank You! :-)
I was not "officially" welcomed until now by you but actually through the few contacts I made I do feel welcome.
A nice place here and lots of good photography :-)
I dared to put some pics under "Please don't Run Away" in the showcase.
I'm considering putting some more later but I don't want to overstrain the patience of the other participants :-)
Post by: RSL on November 28, 2018, 02:48:26 pm
If you are in business you want to make money. It's not a charity service. Anything artists can find to raise their income can only be a good thing; many live a very poor lifestyle.
It's a tough world out there, especially trying to sell something nobody actually needs.
Rob
Yeah, but if you want to make a buck selling individual prints, better change your name to Gursky and make friends with some people at Christie's.
Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 02:55:28 pm
If you are in business you want to make money. It's not a charity service. Anything artists can find to raise their income can only be a good thing; many live a very poor lifestyle.
It's a tough world out there, especially trying to sell something nobody actually needs.
Rob
You are right of course.
And I as a lowly amateur have no right to criticize whatsoever. Just making conversation.
In my humble experience looking at the professional work of professional photographers trying to sell their work promoting watches, beer or whatever what they produce is mostly garbage ( From the point of view of "art", our topic here) . But they make money if they are good at it.
For the rest, those who love this medium as a kind of "art", could maybe frustrating following conventions in which they don't believe and perhaps despise.
All this said with due respect :-)
Post by: rabanito on November 28, 2018, 03:01:12 pm
Yeah, but if you want to make a buck selling individual prints, better change your name to Gursky and make friends with some people at Christie's.
Thanks for the hint. I guess "rabanito" would not sell much.
How about "rabazinsky" ;D ;D
Post by: RSL on November 28, 2018, 03:25:23 pm
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2018, 04:44:24 pm
Thanks for the hint. I guess "rabanito" would not sell much.
How about "rabazinsky" ;D ;D
The galleristas would be friendlier...
:-)
Post by: Jonathan Cross on December 02, 2018, 03:35:03 am
I have never bought as I am concerned about provenance or the danger of there being another print run. We do have prints from etchings because we know the plates were destroyed at the end of the run, but I am never convinced that the negative or digital file has been destroyed. It is also much easier to make a print from a good quality print.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
Post by: Ivophoto on December 03, 2018, 02:18:07 pm
A buyer asked the price of one of the fine prints.
“40.000€” said the curator.
“You see, sir. This is a Palladium print, very rare procédé !”
They negotiated a bit and the buyer pulled his wallet at 37.000€ and walked out in the knowledge he made the bargain of the century. After all, it was n.28/30 and according to the seller, in photography: the higher the number, the better.
(Marc Lagrange was one of the rare living art photographers making a lot of money out of his work)
Post by: rabanito on December 03, 2018, 05:33:27 pm
They negotiated a bit and the buyer pulled his wallet at 37.000€ and walked out in the knowledge he made the bargain of the century. After all, it was n.28/30 and according to the seller, in photography: the higher the number, the better.
A big wallet, I guess. At least 74 banknotes...
Just joking :D