What are original prints?

The definition of a print is in a constant state of evolution. (1) Printmaking as an art tradition has a long history and dates to the 9th century in China for woodblock prints and to the 15th century in Europe. (2)


The traditional idea of an original print is that:

  • it is an inked image on paper,
  • it originated from a design conceived by and most often executed by the artist on a plate for a particular process and medium,
  • it was printed (most often by the artist's own hand) under the supervision of the artist, and
  • and that it met the standards of excellence established by the artist and has been authenticated by his penciled signature. (1 & 3)
One of the reasons an artist might choose to create a work in a print medium as opposed to making a drawing or painting is that the creation of an image on a plate allows for the production of an edition of multiple impressions of that image. There is a long standing tradition that the prints within an edition are original works of art.

The Four great divisions of printmaking
relief • intaglio • planography • serigraphy

Concerning the value of original prints

Southern Graphics Council statement

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