Lithographs are often cited as a valuable investment opportunity for art collectors. And when a lithograph has been created by a blue chip artist, the investment potential can be immense. But what makes lithographs worthwhile as an art purchase – and what sets them apart from other print types?
What is a Lithograph?
Lithographs are sometimes referred to separately from other print types, but they are a type of print. They are created by drawing an image onto a flat stone, or a metal plate. The image is fixed in place by a chemical reaction, and the stone or plate can be used multiple times to print the artwork. If a lithograph uses different colours, each one requires its own plate.
In this way, lithographs can bridge the gap between printing and painting, as they require the initial image to be drawn onto the plate. They can be used for reproductions, but artists can also create lithographs that were never intended to be anything else.
The Blue Chip Standard
When investing in artworks, blue chip refers to artworks created by established artists, and which have a consistently high price, with a strong market demand. While these are not the only artworks worth investing in, they often prove the strongest investment in any art collection.
However, buying artwork by a ‘blue chip’ artist can mean a high price point. This category encompasses historic masters from different art movements, with names such as Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rothko being found on blue chip lists. Investing in an original painting by one of these artists would be challenging by almost any art buyer’s standard. However, as with all artworks, a print will usually cost less.
Why are Lithographs valuable?
A lithograph is only one type of print, and there are many print options available even for blue chip artists. However, the rarity of an artwork, as well as the effort that went into producing it, will generally have an impact on its value. And if you are looking at a print created before the advent of quick and easy printing methods, chances are its value will be that much higher.
Even a 20th century artist such as LS Lowry, for example, would not have been thinking of today’s high definition digital giclées when looking at reproduction printing methods, and so created limited edition prints using lithography. Contemporary artists often choose to use lithograph prints, even with other methods available, preferring the painting-like appearance – or simply enjoying the process of creating and producing the artworks through a fascinating traditional method. https://ezeldotz.com/artwork/l-s-lowry-street-scene-limited-edition/
Intention vs. Reproduction
Prints are, in general, known as reproduction of an artist’s original work, and can provide the opportunity to purchase an artwork that would otherwise be inaccessible. And many wonderful lithographs have been created as reproductions of paintings. However, a lithograph can also be created as its own artwork, without being based on a painting. These works are intended to be created as lithographs by the artist, and they will have created the artwork to take advantage of the method and appearance of lithography.
A wonderful example of this can be seen in the work of Marc Chagall, who is known for his lithographs and etchings. His strong lines and bold colours celebrate the characteristics of the lithograph, rather than trying to appear as something else. Chagall spoke of this art form with passion and fondness: “each time I had a lithographic stone or a copper plate in my hands, I felt that I was touching a talisman to which I could entrust all my sorrows and all my joys.”
Buying and Selling Lithographs
Purchasing high quality lithographs from established names can be a big advantage if you want to keep an option to sell or trade items from your art collection later on. While these prints can have a high price tag, the recognised names come along with an existing market, often spanning across the globe.
Liquidity can be a challenge when it comes to an investment art collection, as it can be hard to judge when buyers will be seeking the art you want to sell. When it comes to these blue chip lithographs, however, the number of active collectors seeking their next artwork is already significant.
Buying or selling lithographs through EzelDotz
If you are interested in selling a lithograph artwork, and would like to find out what the market might hold for your investment, get in contact with the EzelDotz team. Collectors can also browse our available artworks on the site. We have a wide variety of investment-quality limited edition prints, including lithographs, available to purchase. And if you want to be the first to know when an investment artwork becomes available, sign up for our newsletter to get new arrivals right in your inbox!
