5 reasons to buy Graphic Artwork

There is good news for the art world: the purchase of graphic work It is growing.

We call graphic work the set of works of art that result from the combination of different techniques that the artist applies in a series production. Great artists in the history of art such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol It is Salvador Dalí produced a lot of graphic work throughout their careers.
Today we are going to explain 5 reasons to buy graphic work and why it is a very good idea.

What is a graphic work?

As we have already said, a graphic work consists of the serial production of works of art using various methods. Graphic work is traditionally associated with engraving, a technique of printing from a matrix or plate.

Engraving techniques are different because they depend on the matrix material.
In this way, if the matrix is wood, we speak of woodcutting, if it is stone, we speak of lithography, if it is metal, it is calcogravure and in silk screen, serigraphy.

How is a graphic work performed?

All engraving techniques have one thing in common: the artist has to draw a portrait on the matrix, the image being later stamped on paper.
But it is in the elaboration process that the great technical differences arise:

woodcut (wooden engraving): this is the oldest technique, since it has been used since the 14th century. It consists of preparing a matrix of dry and sanded wood and drawing on the surface in the opposite direction to the one we want to obtain as a final result.
The wood is carved along the lines of the design, leaving some parts embossed, inked with a roller and finally stamped on paper.
The famous engraver Albrecht Dürer already resorted to cutting wood in the 15th century.

Serigraphy (silk screen printing): silk screen printing is a Chinese technique that has become fashionable in the US and Europe since the 1940s. It consists of extending a loom and drawing on the fabric with impermeable materials in areas where we don't want ink to penetrate . A sheet of paper is then placed under the fabric and the ink is spread over the fabric. The ink is filtered from the fabric to the paper leaving the impermeable areas free, thus obtaining the final image.
Andy Warhol, an artpop icon, was already turning to screen printing with Marilyn in 1967.



Lithograph (stone engraving): it is a recent technique, discovered in 1778 and disseminated in Europe since then. It consists of using a limestone plate as a matrix on which the drawing is made with pencil and greasy inks for the impermeable parts where we do not want the ink to act. Thanks to the repulsion between water and fat, we can stamp the image on paper.
Francisco de Goya already resorted to lithography with The Famous American Ariane (1824) and at P55 we have lithographs for sale by renowned artists such as banksy, warhol or Kandinsky.



chalcogravure (metallic engraving): it is a technique that allows direct and indirect methods. Its origin is German and Italian, and it has been made since the 15th century.

- Direct methods (for the dry point and burin): it consists of drawing with a burin or a dry point on the metal matrix, preferably copper. The burin cuts the metal, while the dry tip scratches it, making it less aggressive. The ink is poured over the drawing and through a press the image is stamped on the paper.

- Indirect methods (Etching and Aquatint): The first consists of covering the matrix with a layer of acid-resistant varnish from the engraving. With a point, the design is made by scratching the varnish and then the iron is immersed in nitric acid and water, corroding the lines of the design. When etching is complete, the varnish is removed and ink and stamping are continued. The second is a derivation of engraving to achieve watercolor-like effects and drawings made with ink.

Artists such as Rembrandt, Munch, Piranesi or Francisco de Goya resorted to different Chalcogravure methods during the Modern Era.

5 reasons to invest in graphic work

1. It's more accessible: graphic work is more accessible than a single-copy work. Some factors that influence the affordable price of graphic work are the technique and dimensions used in the pieces, as well as the number of copies in the print run. This diversity is an ample offer for the average collector and buyer, as he can compare the prices of graphic work on the market and find the ones that best suit his possibilities. Let's remember that graphic work is in fashion, so the offer is wide.
   
   
2.  It is more profitable: investing in graphic work is more profitable than we think for several reasons:
   First, because its value can increase over time. Like Banksy, which has gained interest in the media over the years or because it is a posthumous work, as in the case of Andy Warhol.
   Second, because we can get a complete series that would add value to the set by reselling it.
   
   
3. It's very exclusive: a graphic work can be very exclusive if it is a preparatory sketch of the final engraving (previous works can become highly sought after, as it reflects the previous state of a work of art and enriches the information about it) , if the print run is limited or even if it has unique details that were incorporated by the artist.
   
   
4. It's more original: the originality of the graphic work is linked to its exclusivity. The artist who complements the work with peculiar details makes the graphic work an original and unique piece, regardless of whether there are one, two or ten pieces, since each complementary detail will be unique and non-transferable.
   
   
5. It's the perfect gift: although art is a very personal thing, many people buy art to give to their loved ones. Whether it's a festive moment or a very special occasion, a good work of art becomes a unique and innovative gift that can be cherished for a lifetime.

Sale of graphic work at P55

At P55 we have for sale graphic works not only of the great icons of art but also dalí, Lichtenstein, Picasso, Keith Haring, Klimt, Matisse It is money, but also magnificent artists such as banksy, Vhils, Darocha, Oker, Molina, It is Cruzeiro Seixas, between others.