Expert: Judy - 10/4/2009

Question
I just received a framed work by German Folk Artist Paul A. Seifert and cannot find any information if it is an original or a print. How can I tell the difference?

Answer
Hi, Amanda,

Thanks for the question.

I assume that you meant "reproduction" by using the word "print."  The term "print" in art is in the general category of an art medium, such as painting, drawing, photography, and print.  There are many methods of making prints such as etching, intaglio, and etc..  A print in this category is fine-art; print making is art itself.  On the other hand, a reproduction is one of the mass produced, machine made, which acts as a copy of the original painting, drawing, print, and etc...

If you were asking the question about how to tell the difference between a reproduction and an original, then you just need to look at the piece very closely.  If you have a good eye sight, you probably don't need magnifying glasses.  If you only see brush strokes, blends of colors, lines, and so forth, then it is an original art work.  If you see same uniformed sized round dots with only yellow, red, blue, and black colors, then it is a reproduction.