About Ben Mahmoud Expertise Questions regarding "the business of the arts (ie.artist/dealer relations).
Questions regarding the collecting of contemporary art.
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional appraiser, however, I can direct interested parties to sources of information.
Experience 40 years as professor of art, Northern Illinois University
Curator of University Art Collection (responsible for purchase and care).
Member of the board of directors, Illinois Arts Council.
Juror of many competitions.
See vitae: http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Publications Many conference proceedings.
"Advice to Young Artists in a Postmodern Era" with William Dunning, Syracuse University Press, 2000.
Education/Credentials MFA, Ohio University, 1960
Awards and Honors See vitae: http://http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Question QUESTION: I have an old Picasso don quixote litho done on Arches watermarked paper however...it is not signed, it looks exactly like the original apart from a couple of areas of shading. Is it worth anything because it is not signed? Thank you for your time.
ANSWER: Sure, it worth something. It is probably a print from the litho stone that Picasso drew on. You can call it an original Picasso. However, since it is not numbered or signed, the value is not great.
When an artist dies, often the stone and plates are sold off. The buyers then begin to print from the stones and plates as many copies as the medium will allow. Lithos break down much earlier than etchings, so I would surmise that there would be fewer lithos than if it were an etching.
Never-the-less, you can be assured that the number that they printed is in the hundreds.
At least the print printed the litho on good quality paper. Arches is acid free paper and can last a very long time if properly cared for.
Let me direct you to a web site that may be of some help to you. Here is the link:
If you live in or near a large city, you might call the art museum and inquire as to whether they have days for appraisals. That used to be a practice, and it was free. However, I suspect that does not go on anymore. You can contact a reputable print dealer and give them the size, and send a picture of the print. They might be willing to take the time to tell what the market is right now.
You must understand that the market changes....just like stocks. I witnessed a decline in the value of Picasso prints (signed and numbered) in the early 90s. I have not kept track of the auction prices and sales of Picasso's works. But there are those who have. You will have to search them out. But be careful that you deal only with a reputable art dealer. (How do you know they are reputable? The should belong the Gallery Dealers Association of America.)
So, I have provided you will as much information that I have. I do hope it has been of some help to you.
Regards, Ben Mahmoud
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QUESTION: Thank you for you great advice I am going to have this piece looked at if for no other reason than caring for it properly. I got it from a thrift store and took it out of the frame (not the original) for closer inspection. It is on very old paper and has already sustained some deterioration which I would like to halt. Thank you again!
Answer What is happening to the paper is probably "foxing." This is a kind of paper mold that has a brownish tint to it. This can be fixed, but I will warn you, it is an expensive process.
The other thing that might be wrong with the print is that is was in contact with paper that had an acid content. Arches is an archival paper, but in contact with, say cardboard, it will absorb the acid and cause a coloration in the paper.
