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Fine Art/Albrecht Durer Woodcut

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Expert: Andrew Evans - 6/19/2009


Question
I recently acquired what appears to be an original woodcut by Durer, but have no way of knowing for sure. It is on thick paper, which from the reverse has faint lines about 1 1/2" apart (laid paper?). The ink is thick and deep black and there is a faint stamped mark on the back. Can you help me identify this as possbily being an original? I do have very high quality scans of the whole image (Samson Killing the Lion) and high resolution closeups of parts of the work.

Cordially,
Felix

Answer

Durer woodcut, signed
Durer woodcuts are usually on what is described as "fine laid paper". It is pretty thin. The popular suites are Apocalypse, Large Passion, Engraved Passion, Small Passion, and Life of the Virgin. As you may know, his signature is signed in the plate and looks like an 'A' with a 'D' underneath it.

The stamp on the back may be a collector's stamp. These types of markings can help build provenance for a piece if you can verify its origins.

You can browse these Albrecht Durer woodcuts http://www.masterworksfineart.com/inventory/durer for an idea of their worth. Old Master Prints such as Durer and Rembrandt tend to be found in connoisseur's collection.

For a more accurate appraisal of your work, I recommend sending an email to Alex Adelman http://www.masterworksfineart.com/contact/index.html (email: alex at masterworksfineart.com) with attached high quality images of the piece and any outstanding marks (such as the stamp on the back). Adelman deals with Durer woodcuts daily and will be happy to take a look at this piece.

This should help you get started. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Andrew Evans

Expertise

Experienced in selling, appraising and judging authenticity of signed original prints and unique works of fine art. Concentration on Rembrandt etchings; Edgar Degas drawings; Calder lithographs; Picasso; Miro; Durer woodcuts; Marc Chagall lithographs; Bruegel; Renoir etchings; Toulouse Lautrec lithographs; Vasarely; Warhol silk screens; Henry Moore sculptures. I use resources from Alex Adelman to MOMA to historical catalogs.

Experience

Judging authenticity and avoiding fraud, appraisal, gallery, dealer, fine art investments

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Sonoma State University

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