Art, as fans of it know, is subjective and interpretive.
So how does someone with minimal to no knowledge of art and its history recognize the inherent value of a piece of artwork?
After all, it’s worthwhile to know whether the dusty old oil painting unearthed from Aunt Bea’s attic is priceless or worthless.
Context is crucial in determining the significance of a piece of art, regardless of whether it is a canvas painting or a piece of furniture, says Jeff Jeffers, principal auctioneer and CEO of Delaware-based Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.
“We have to put things into context to understand the body of an artist’s work, to understand what makes the work that we’re holding in our hand good, better or best,” Jeffers says.
Archibald Willard, an Ohio artist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is most famous for painting The Spirit of ’76. He had six known copies made, with the most expensive piece selling at $1.4 million and the least expensive at $400,000, depending on condition and other factors. In contrast, Jeffers says, a still-life of a bowl of fruit Willard painted later in his career sold for about $500 because he was not known as a still-life artist.
Ultimately, it is the authenticity of a work that drives its value, Jeffers says. If someone with an untrained eye stumbles upon an interesting art piece at a yard sale, the back of the artwork can assist the buyer in identifying the level of its authenticity or inherent value. By flipping to the back of the painting, the buyer can note how the paper or wood has oxidized or changed color due to the aging process.
Jeffers encourages those who are interested in acquiring art, whether for a personal collection or for resale, to educate themselves in the form and content of art in general.
“Form has to do with all the mechanics about art: medium, material, color, use of line, space, all these things that may or may not have been put into the conscious effort of producing the work,” Jeffers says. “All those things end up being the content and the finished product.”
Educating oneself in the fundamentals of art can mean four years of classes, but art education can also mean combing through an art book, depending on a person’s personal preference.
“Even if it is an unsigned, unattributable work that was found at a yard sale, and nobody can tell us where it’s been, and nobody can tell us who the artist is, the better a piece of art captures great form and has good content, the better it is,” Jeffers says.
Nen Lin Soo is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
