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Author Topic: Signatures - Limited Edition Run  (Read 2768 times)

rabanito

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Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« on: November 28, 2018, 10:03:22 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?
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RSL

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2018, 10:14:35 am »

Absolute agreement here, Rab. It's an affectation. With printing processes like etching, where the plate degenerates gradually as printing proceeds, numbering the prints and limiting the print run might make some limited sort of sense, but with photography it's so stupid it's funny. Since the negative or file doesn't degenerate, and since you learn as you proceed with the print run, the fiftieth print may be better than the first. It's just one of those asinine ideas that becomes embedded in ignorant minds.
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rabanito

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #2 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
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elliot_n

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2018, 10:30:37 am »

It's how the art market works. Collectors set the rules.

But, yes, it's silly.
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2018, 10:40:13 am »

Nothing silly here. Rarity is always valued more.

Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #5 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).

KLaban

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #6 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.

petermfiore

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #7 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

rabanito

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2018, 11:32:03 am »

The example you give is clearly not a limited edition.

Limiting the edition is a perfectly valid marketing strategy: like it or not.
Yes you are right
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?
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2018, 11:37:38 am »

... Giving dollars for trifles?

Those were not trifles for them.

KLaban

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2018, 11:47:39 am »

Limited edition or open edition, neither qualifies the veracity of the work or should be seen to do so.

rabanito

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2018, 02:10:12 pm »

But, isn't it a little depressing?
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 :-(
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RSL

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2018, 02:25:28 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?
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Rob C

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2018, 02:36:32 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

rabanito

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #14 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 :-)
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RSL

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #15 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.
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rabanito

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #16 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 :-)

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rabanito

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #17 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
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RSL

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2018, 03:25:23 pm »

Probably worth a try.  ;D
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Rob C

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Re: Signatures - Limited Edition Run
« Reply #19 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...

:-)
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