INVESTING IN FINE ART PRINTS BY THE MASTERS

1. INVESTING IN FINE ART PRINTS BY THE MASTERS Although the art of serigraphy has been around for 100 years (and other methods  of printmaking far longer than that), fine art prints have become one of the most  rapidly growing sectors of the​ ​art market​ ​in the past decade. Even over the past 6  months, here at ​Laasya Art​, we have noticed tremendous interest among clients  from the US, Europe, and Africa to own a signed print by the Modernist Masters  like M.F. Husain and S.H. Raza, whose original paintings are otherwise  unaffordable for many.  Yet while the demand for serigraphs has grown, collectors invariably have a lot of  questions about the process, their value, and how they differ from original  artwork. We thought it fitting to devote a blog to this topic. 

2. So, what is a serigraph? A serigraph is a high quality, limited edition fine art print, made on high-quality  absorbent paper in collaboration between the artist and a professional printer.  (There are dozens of types of prints, but here at Laasya Art we primarily work with  serigraphs.)  Producing serigraphs is a meticulous, completely manual process. Using the  original artwork as the master guide, a different stencil is created for each color  that will compose the image. Then, the ink is pushed through the corresponding  stencil onto the paper and ​then laid flat on a drying rack. This step is repeated multiple

3. times, using a separate stencil for each color. A single serigraphic print can have as  many as 25 colors or more.  Recently, we visited a printmaking studio and took this ​step-by-step video​ to  illustrate this process.  Each color uses a different stencil and is separately applied to the paper, which is then laid on a drying rack in-between applications. A single serigraph can have as many as 25 colors or more. Why do artists work with serigraphs? Often, serigraphs are produced by senior top indian artists whose paintings reach  the top end of the market, like ​M.F. Husain​, ​S.H. Raza​, and ​Thota Vaikuntam​.  These artists’ original works may be out of reach for most collectors, but with  serigraphs, one can get very high-quality prints of these artists with their original  signatures at affordable price points. 

4. Sometimes, serigraphs are also made by mid-tier artists who have achieved a  certain level of success, popularity, and recognition like ​Seema Kohli​, Atul Dodiya,  Manu and Madhvi Parikh, and Paresh Maity.  The term “serigraph” might feel new, but you have likely encountered serigraphs  before, as many famous artists have worked with this medium — Andy Warhol,  for example, used serigraphs to create his iconic Marilyn Monroe and Campbell  Soup series. Do I need to frame serigraphs? Yes, absolutely! Works on paper must always be framed to properly protect them  from warping and discoloration. Read our ​framing guide​ to better understand your  options, from ornate metal to minimal wood.  I hope this creates a better understanding of serigraphs! We welcome you to  browse our collection of serigraphs by ​M.F. Husain​, ​S.H. Raza​, and ​Thota  Vaikuntam​. If you would like to inquire about available works or have any  additional questions, please get in touch at +1 (650) 770 – 9088 or  info@laasyaart.com.