The Art of Collecting American Prints |
Buying older prints at auctions and thrift shops can be an affordable way to decorate bare walls in a home. But don’t forget, some of these prints can be quite valuable turning a simple decorative purchase into a treasured find. Many of the most popular prints with collectors these days are "cottage" prints. These colorful prints have the soft look of a watercolor and blend in with many decorating styles from the shabbily chic look to English country.Lots of cottage prints were produced during the first half of the 20th century and hung in the rooms of our parents and grandparents homes. These prints almost look like a scene from a fairy tale with an old world garden appeal. Perhaps that's why they were so popular, since they transport you to another place and time. Cottage prints aren't expensive compared to the big names in 20th century American art prints. You can find these attractive accent pieces in a modest frame for about $30-75, but prices are likely to rise as these vintage pieces get harder and harder to find. If you're interested in making an investment in decorative print, you'll want to learn some of the big names in the business. These include the familiar pieces by Maxfield Parrish and Bessie Pease Gutmann. Parrish produced nearly 900 works during his 65-year artistic career, according to the "Collector's Value Guide to Early 20th Century American Prints." More than 20 million art prints, calendars, book illustrations, greeting cards, and other printed pieces, including numerous advertising campaigns, have brought this artist's work into American homes. The original prints from the early 1900s featuring Parrish's work can be very pricey acquisitions for today's collector. Best known for incorporating an almost dreamlike quality to his work along with many beautifully posed characters, including some incredibly beautiful women, the works of this artist have been timeless favorites spanning decades. Most old Parrish prints sell for over $150 now, even unframed, and the most popular works will likely bring much more when offered for sale. Bessie Pease Gutman produced outstanding paintings of infants, children, new mothers and couples in love, which were widely reproduced as color prints. From bright-eyed babies to angelic faced toddlers with perky puppies, Gutman's work definitely tugs the heartstrings and can only be defined as adorable. The machine-produced prints of Gutman's artistic endeavors between 1905-1950 receive the most attention from collectors. You can expect to pay several hundred dollars or more to acquire one of these prints from a knowledgeable dealer.
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| ~ Pamela Wiggins |
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