Sometimes the beholder has paid some huge money for it.

Not just being flippant, but the art market depends on the collectors to set the tone for value. When Andreas Gursky’s diptych of the 99cent stores sold for over 3.3 million dollars, a new height was reached for the sale of a photograph by a living artist.
And it was a public sale at auction.

What’s it all worth? What ever the market thinks it is.

We try to keep you informed about the current auctions coming, and sometimes these aberrations in the sales. A photograph truly can be not only a thing of beauty, inspiration, and visual touchstone in you home, but a great investment. You may not be able to afford a new house, but an investment in art, may be more attainable.

[photopress:artnetAUCTIONS_logo_white_bg.JPG,full,alignright] With Butterfields, Sothebys, DePury, Christies and all the rest, artnet joins this group of trusted names. Plus you can bid online.
No buyers fees (at this point). Yes, sellers pay a $25. listing and 10% selling surcharge, but if you’re looking to buy, here is another option from the comfort of your home.

[photopress:Marvin_Newman__Coney_Island_2.jpg,full,centered] © Marvin Newman, Coney Island

Want some more background?
artnet has been online since 1995 and is host to over 2,000,000 visitors each month. Through its Price Database of over 3.5 million auction sales results and its Gallery Network of over 2,000 galleries worldwide, artnet is the leading online resource for the international art market. With the new Online Auctions, artnet is adding a transaction platform to its successful information services.
Want more? Click here, or here.

From their site:
“Every artnet Online Auctions seller has been approved by artnet after a thorough review. All of our sellers are required to accept the following artnet policy: A buyer may return an item purchased through artnet Online Auctions, if the item received is not as described in its listing, or is found to be not authentic. Please see our full Return Policy for details.”

Admittedly, we do like to see the work in person at previews if possible. We once were looking for a particular photograph but the prints we had seen didn’t appeal to us in person. However, there are photos we’ve purchased that were done through the mail from respected galleries.
As long as there is recourse, you should be fine.

Correct us if we’re wrong, but this seems to be the way it’s all going.

Still wish we bought the Rue Mouffetard by Henri Cartier-Bresson when we had the chance.

[photopress:6a00d8341c82c653ef00e54f4652678833_500wi.jpg,full,centered]© Henri Cartier-Bresson 1954, Rue Mouffetard

This entry was posted on Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 2:43 pm and is filed under Photo News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.