Urban Art Association

Im not saying that the prints are bought with the intention to stick them in the portfolio but I have bought prints that went in there for safety and then never got framed.

If they are framed correctly why should it devalue them? I would never shell out large sums of money on art that I like just to keep it hidden away, it doesnt make sence to me, if I havent got room on the wall for a new piece then something else has to go that I enjoy less, to buy something to leave unframed is crazy. Ime sure plenty will disagree but thats my thought on the matter.

if you value art...you frame it, if you dont like it enough to frame then thats when i think its devalued

maybe, if i had a 10 grand print id get framed by a professional and would't do it myself no way

I wouldn't by a valuable print framed, id want to see it out. I coincidentally dropped off 4 prints to be framed today and will hold onto the receipts stating museum glass and mylar strips (no tape!).

I don't think a frame devalues a print unless it is a poor job or the person wishing to buy the print does not like the frame. In many cases a good frame adds to the value of a print, although it also adds to the postage costs which can put people off if the value of the print is not so high. There is also the problem of removing a print from a frame in order to send it. This can leave a print marked and creased which would devalue the print.

I always frame prints that I want to put on the wall as and when I can afford to. Some do not get framed but that's because I struggle to afford to frame all my prints.

Surely any decent framer would frame so that the process is entirely reversible. i.e. a decent frame job should not have any impact on the condition of the print whatsoever.

You're only thinking about street art.

I can tell you that historically people would pay more money for a print that have never been framed than a print that has been framed.

Same thing goes to condition. The more valuable a fine art print is the less small defects would impact its price. Condition basis shipped with age (logically). People will pay huge premium for a mint condition Picasso (small folds, stains, creases are acceptable).

If you would see the price some prints reach in a really poor condition you would be shocked.

A fine example that makes me laugh is the result of an amazing linocut by Picasso : Buste de Femme d'après Cranach le Jeune. An awful copy still sold for £100K a month ago at Sotheby's in London (good condition usually go around £250K)

Here is the condition report :

The full sheet, the colours strong, repaired tears in upper right of image extending from black area into the white area by the right shoulder (approx. 24cm), the black touched up, a repaired hole in the blue area (diameter approx. 1.5cm), a diagonal repaired tear extending upper left of image into black by left shoulder (approx. 25cm), the black touched up, a band of pale mount-staining across lower edge of sheet, a diagonal broken crease at lower left corner of sheet (approx. 12cm), sheet backed with another sheet of wove paper, leaving dedication visible, unframed, recommend viewing before bidding.

To come back to the original discussion. Art is still meant to be framed and hopefully conservation techniques have been made available at "low" costs these days for people to frame their print "safely" (not sure if anything is 100% safe though).

As rperry said, framing can cause some non reparable damages in the long run (and I'm not talking 5 years here)!

It's an interesting point about condition. I am not someone who has a hard on for mint prints. If I am putting something on the wall, then minor creases, especially round the edges that can be framed out are nothing to me.

It only ever becomes an issue if you are buying purely to sell I think. Which most people seem to do these days anyway...

To spend money on art you love simply to file it away seems madness to me, everything I have bought so far has purely been down to work I love and want to display in my home... Regardless of the cost

portfolio queens? The sound of a bandwagon been jumped on?

Dont think the $20.00 Blinky print in the portfolio is going to soar anytime soon.

Opinions appreciated, name calling, really?

Maybe some of us are a little more open minded with the print buying.