I sometimes wonder when buyers are given a link from an ebay lot to a post on Modern Printmakers what they make of it all. It is hard to say how much blogs like mine influence prices. They must raise the profile of artists, even if Boxsius has always been rated by the cognoscenti. But when these sales come up, I don't notice a rush on the half dozen or so posts about Boxsius where people really can get a better idea of what kind of an artist he was. But were the proofs of his Spring and Autumn as sold on ebay late this afternoon worth £232 and £216 respectively?
Just look at the condition of the paper. The dappling you can just make out is foxing - all around the margins. You can also just make out all large spots of foxing pretending to be little clouds above the trees. A proof of Spring in far better condition went for £90 less only a few weeks ago, so it really is farcical. This image is not rare as the seller tried to make out who presumably decided to give these two prints a go on the strength of the previous sale. It has come up three times in the past couple of years and I will tell you all now, it will be up again, better and cheaper and eventually, everyone will have all three.
You can be certain that Autumn was in even worse condition simply because the edge of the paper is hidden. One thing about Spring is this. It's not on such thin paper and the creases and ruckles do tend to look worse in a photo. The other two seasons, as you can see, tend to come on a fine, tissue-like paper, which gives the prints an utterly delightful atmosphere. (But not if it's foxed it doesn't). It looks very much as if Boxsius used a heavier hand-made paper for the Spring image because of the paleness of the colours.
When it comes to prices, I do sometimes wonder if I'm missing something. But then I tend to think, 'No, it's other people are catching up.' Time after time people write to me and say, 'I've loved my Boxsius prints for years'. It's those readers who deserve him.
Well of course the more we say the more people know and they think their foxed-to-within-an-inch-of-it's-life print will be enough for that trip to Majorca in the Spring. Reality or quality rarely enter into the equation. I always think that art should be loved, and in the end....the price something sells at is what it is worth to someone. Speaking of Ebay, there are some stunningly rare Elizabeth Keith prints on the market this week, and they prove once again that Keith was really quite talented.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting but no doubt unconscious link between Keith and Boxsius there.
ReplyDeleteI accept all that you say about these two prints and the part we play, but to some extent the prices also reflect the style. They were designed, like John Hall Thorpe's, not so much for print collectors as for wall-effect.
As for the part I have played in matters SGB, I know how much interest about Boxsius there is, and there is no point denying readers what they want to see or read about. If I did, I would have none left.
And people keep on sending new stuff in so that I often feel obliged to publish. This was certainly the case with David Broad whose only aim was to establish a reputation for his grandfather's work.
I should add that in my opionion this particular set of prints by Boxsius varies alot more than many from the same period and it is unwise to approach them in the same way. But buying the Boxsius season prints in poor condition is nothing new. I saw it all, well before blogs existed, in the eighties, 'Autumn' with a hole in the middle, going for £70 twenty-five years ago.
ReplyDeleteBuyers are prepared to bids these amounts for prints in poor condition because they "need" to own them and are often blinded by this need. Alternatively, they feel they have paid the correct price and have access to a reliable picture restorer who will remove the foxing and return them to they former glory. Once framed they have paid no more, may be even less than buying from a gallery or fair !! In fact we need more buyers like this.
ReplyDeleteFor these less well known artists (to the general masses, that is) auctions are not a reliable guide to values and demands. If one of the bidders hadn't searched this week, these print could have sold for £20 !! and then we would discussing how under-valued this artist is !!
Keep promoting these printmaker/artists - as this often drives "new finds" on to the market, giving the real enthusiasts a chance to own them.
That's an interesting perspective, Steven, but I don't think I'm entirely convinced, partly because these sales mark a new high for Boxsius online and partly because it may not be collectors who have bought, as you imply. It may well be the trade. It's the trade that is most likely to have access to a restorer at a reasonable rate. Stuff goes to the States where they command higher prices.
ReplyDeleteThe collectors who write to me about Boxsius and current prices take a different line. Personally, I never buy newly-framed prints from the trade. There is too much scope for hiding the kinds of damage we see here. Almost all my prints go into portfolios and anything I buy in an old frame, comes out of it now.
But why buy these when you could have bought Broad's 'The Circus, Southwold' on Saturday for £140?