Limited Edition Prints

Accessible Works of Art For those who wish to own fine art, the limited edition fine art print is a popular and accessible way to start or build a collection. Thanks to modern technology and the expert craftsmanship of Jim Harrison, the limited edition fine art print can now convey all of the emotion, color, and nuances of an original painting. It has become the artwork of choice for a growing number of enthusiasts, even some who have never acquired art before.

Exclusive Images To Collect Produced in a limited or fixed edition, the limited edition fine art print is exclusive. Specific quantities of prints are delicately reproduced from an original painting. Each print is signed by the artist and is a high quality reproduction of the artist’s original. The signature documents the artist’s approval of each individual print, and the print is numbered with its own number as well as the total number of prints in the edition. Once the artist approves the edition, all materials used in creation of the print are destroyed so the print cannot be produced again. This guarantees the exclusivity of the edition.

Part of a Historic Tradition Owning a fine art print continues a historic tradition in collecting. Master painters like Rembrandt, Degas, and Renoir all created prints as a means of reaching a wider group of collectors. In the 19th Century, Currier and Ives popularized a technique called “lithography” to make multiple prints of the same image. The portfolios of wildlife artist Audubon, known for his images of birds, were produced the same way. Modern technology has now made possible high-quality limited edition fine art prints, allowing a growing collector audience to continue the tradition.

Faithful Representations of Original Works Limited edition fine art prints are made by a process called “lithography.” This advanced photographic printing technique has increased the faithfulness of the fine art print to its original. Offset lithography uses inks — carried by rubber rollers called printing blankets — to transfer images from metal plates to paper. By this method, the richness and romance of the original can be conveyed to every print in the edition. This degree of consistency in detail, clarity, and color accuracy was not available until offset lithography was perfected.

Your Guide To Limited Edition Fine Art Prints

Acid Free

A descriptive term for specially made materials — used for the print itself in the framing process — that are free of acids, which can cause discoloration and deterioration of a print.

Edition, Limited

A fixed number of identical prints of an image, signed by the artist, sequentially numbered, and showing both the print’s number and the total edition size. Each print is referred to as a “limited edition print.”

Edition, Open

Identical prints of the same image, which are signed by the artist and published in an unlimited number.

Offset Lithography

A photographic printing technique that transfers an image from metal plates to paper, using ink carried by rubber rollers called printing blankets.

Proof, Artist’s (AP)

Additional prints not included in, but of the same quality as, the limited edition, produced for the artist’s personal use and approval.

Remarque

An original or printed drawing or marking made by an artist, usually in the margin of a limited edition print or on a small separate sheet of paper that accompanies the limited edition print. A remarque, especially is original, can add substantially to the value of a limited edition print.

Sold Out

The phrase denoting that prints of a certain limited edition are no longer available from the publisher.

Secondary Market

An unofficial network of dealers and individuals where the buying and selling of fine art prints take place after the initial release and purchase of a limited edition fine art print.