Use the following tips to help you determine whether you are looking at a hand-pulled or offset lithograph. Put on your gloves and remove the artwork from its frame. At first glance it certainly looks like the real thing. Prints from an offset press will show a mechanical dot pattern from the color separations. If the dots are in tightly unified rows, this is an indication that it's a print. CC: In broad terms, painting is characterized as the application of pigments to a surface or support. Check the signature. If the dots are in tightly unified rows, this is an indication that it's a print. Curtis Dowling shows a few ways to check that a painting is the real thing. And what a charming print. If the ink particles are quite uniformly dispersed in perfect little tiny circles, it is likely a computer print out. A print, on the other hand, … If you know any photographers who print their images, ask them which printing services they use. Ask for input from someone who's well versed in art to help you assess the work if you're still unable to determine what it is. Whether the piece is a limited edition print or a lithograph, there should be a signature by the artist with a number and a slash. A lithograph print is more affordable but still carries a tag of exclusivity, quality and value as there is almost certainly not going to be many copies. International Fine Art Authenticity Investigations. Look for a signature and a number. In recent years an ever growing number of works with the name Marc Chagall have been sold at auction and as the values of works of art by him consistently climb ever higher, there is an even greater need for confirmation of legitimacy. If you are not an artist, but rather a collector, let me tell you about a few things that anyone could look for. If the image breaks up into hundreds of tiny dots (called half-tones) then what you really have is a photo-offset lithograph, the most common type of reproduction. “You can tell pretty quickly if it’s incorrect.” While some artists sign in pen, Gersh says pencil is important because it’s more difficult to transfer. TIN LITHOGRAPH TOYS: FAKE or REAL? If the print is supposed to be a lithograph or woodcut or wood engraving, then there should be no platemark. She writes copy for an assortment of industries. 9 years ago. Opinion How Can You Tell If a Basquiat Is Real or Fake? There are a lot of ways to tell if a piece is a reproduction or an original, especially to a trained artist. Look for a signature. They're not the same as a poster that you get from the store, but they aren't as close to the real deal as a lithograph. Her work also appears in the "Houston Chronicle" small business section. Sometimes this can de-value a print (if there is an unknown quantity of them) or sometimes it improves it (because it's rarer). What I would like to know is how can I tell if it's an original watercolor without removing it from the frame (it has a paper sealed backing on it). The lithograph is sequentially numbered in pencil in the lower left border, by a curator at S2 Editions." It’s always a great idea to get references from reliable and trusted sources. Using Reputable Art Dealers or Experts To Verify If Your Lithograph is Real and Not a Print. Peel back the paper carefully, if this is the case, to locate the label. If the line is continuously solid then it is probably an actual lithograph, or engraving, or woodcut, or whatever actual original print. Offset lithography is a high-speed commercial printing process. A lithograph is a print made by drawing on limestone with wax crayons, applying ink onto the stone and printing the image onto paper. Prints however, are usually mass produced, and are typically done by mechanical devices of some type. by David Moncrief Tin Litho Toys: Tips to Identify Fakes from Real Some of the most sought after and replicated toys are those that are tin lithographed. Real friends hurt you--This does not mean "Hurt" you purposely. So be careful if one of this posters is offered as "original lithograph in colors". Marks from a hand lithograph will show a random dot pattern created by the tooth of the surface drawn on. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. If the print is not that expensive then why bother, just enjoy the work. As far as authenticity, if you determine that it is in fact a painting and not a print…that should be done by a professional. One can observe the variances simply by observing them in person. Forged versions of famous paintings can make it past the experts and sell for millions. How do you define a painting versus a print? The Art of John Lennon. Examine the paint thickness to see if it varies or is uniform. The identification of prints is the most difficult area in art valuation due to the great variety of printing methods used over the centuries - too numerous and complicated to go into here. The signatures are there as well. While the screenprinting process Andy Warhol employed is rather difficult, time consuming and expensive to reproduce, there are times in which a forged Andy Warhol print or canvas will pop up. Examine the rim of the print. How to Differentiate Between Photogravure & Lithographed Stamps A common question we receive from many EzStamp customers is “What is the difference between Litho & Photo? Lithography (from Ancient Greek λίθος, lithos, meaning 'stone', and γράφειν, graphein, meaning 'to write') is a method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. Telling an original print or map from a reproduction can sometimes be very easy, and other times quite difficult. Assuming, if it is, the lithograph is reasonably low volume and the artist is worth something they'll want to talk to you and can give you an expert opinion. If you're not buying it from a dealer, examine it yourself. Hadley is a UCLA-certified computer professional. The images were printed in ink from lithographic stones onto fairly thick sheets of wove paper and then were hand colored. It's not something that is mass produced. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. The British Museum recently featured one of her digital images in an exhibit. However, the lithograph shows a more “real” signature and is hand numbered, while, a print does show a signature and maybe a number, they are mechanical made. Prepare the work for inspection. If you doubt what you see, get a second or third opinion before forming a conclusion about the lithograph. ** For Availability and Pricing. Hand-pulled lithographs will typically have a signature on the back while offset lithography prints and reproductions will not. Look for any signs of mechanical reproduction, including ink patterns that are too neat, a lack of apparent brush strokes or anything else that appears to have been done by a machine. For instance, if you had the 13th print of a limited edition set of 50, you should see the artist's signature and the symbol "13/50." A genuine stone lithograph on the other hand will appear solid and substantial, even under magnification. What's New? Such prints are not originals. Is an offset lithograph nothing more than a poster or was this guy a scheister? The piece i have has real ink ut its flat to the surface and part of - Answered by a verified Antique Expert . If the dots are more randomly scattered throughout the page, it's an indication of an original lithograph. Inks may lay directly on top of others and it will have a very rich look. The Art of John Lennon. Also, look for consistency — compare the signature with other works by the artist. Lithographs are copies of artwork that are either created by the artist or an authorised maker. Note that fake platemarks are not uncommon, but these usually differ in character from real platemarks. How to Identify an Authentic Andrew Wyeth Print, Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. You may be able to discover the “rosette” pattern without a magnifying glass or pocket microscope, depending on how good your vision happens to be. This technique was first used arou In the case of prints which look like oil paintings, 'highlights' will be as flat as the rest of the picture - there is no rough or raised surface of paint. Excellent! Lithograph is a misused word and is used to mean several different things. It's possible that the artist him or herself actually printed the lithograph in some cases. If you're not buying it from a dealer, examine it yourself. They will look at it with a strong magnifying glass to inspect the ink deposited on the paper. Curtis Dowling shows a few ways to check that a painting is the real thing. Lithographs are copies of artwork that are either created by the artist or an authorized maker. How can you tell if a picture is a print? Lithograph is just a way of making prints, which could also be made by silkscreen and several other techniques. Then tiltthe paper . The best known print types are lithographs, etchings, engravings, screen prints, woodcuts, linocuts and the modern Giclée prints. Thomas McNish has been writing since 2005, contributing to Salon.com and other online publications. Printed unobtrusively on this part of - Answered by a verified Antique expert // Group... 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This Madonna & Child lithograph comes up for sale from time to time to 1875 when the process which! Ink particles are quite uniformly dispersed in perfect little tiny circles, it is likely a print... A slight angle an expert art collecting is an offset lithograph printer image of an original lithograph, for... And then were hand colored lithographs work which has no verifiable provenance should suspicion! Verifiable provenance should raise suspicion back side of the print under a magnifying glass to look for —... 'Re purchasing it if they 're aware of whether it 's probably not an original! Probably not an `` original lithograph on our website for any dots lining up in neat rows print of!