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Friday, February 6, 2009

Visual Art If You Like Prints at All

Posted by on Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 10:57 AM

...then you need to be aware of what's happening at Davidson Galleries this weekend: the eighth annual Seattle Print Fair, which will showcase 500 years of European, American, and Japanese prints. It's happening Saturday from 10 to 6 and Sunday from 11 to 5.

Davidson's not a huge space, so the fair will be necessarily limited. But the gems that are already up—seen last night at Artwalk—are worth the trip alone.

Here, for instance, is Hogarth's compendium of periwigs from an engraving made in 1761 (this is an early impression). The Five Orders of Periwigs as they were Worn at the Late Coronation Measured Architectonically (a great name for anything of any kind, it would seem) is, as an aside, the new favorite artwork of one Lindy West.

91e0/1233946282-perriwigs-1.jpg

Also up are Ben Beres's little text prints, which would have made Hogarth proud (of which more later).

 

Comments (9) RSS

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1
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Posted by Lindy West on February 6, 2009 at 11:42 AM
2
Cooooool.
But buying prints seems kind of frivolous. Jen = love, economy = hate.
Posted by EmilyP on February 6, 2009 at 11:45 AM
3
I happened to walk into the gallery 15 years ago and its been nice to know that such a place continues today. Staff know their material. They don't hype. The collection is extensive and the prices are fair. Sam is appropriately galleryish with his bowtie.
Posted by Lawrence Molloy on February 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM
4
Art is only "frivolous" to the "frivolous" person.
Posted by Van Go on February 6, 2009 at 12:07 PM
5
@2, Some would make the case that all art buying is frivolous, but those people have values that are misaligned with mine on just about every level.

I'm one of those people who is a little grossed out by putting monetary values on works of art. Ironically, I'm also in that business. So it goes. Anyway, from where I'm standing, I can honestly say that buying artworks by dead artists with established international reputations is probably one of the most conservative and pragmatic long term investments one could make at this time, provided you go to reputable dealers and don't buy artwork that is ridiculously overpriced (i.e. Rembrandts and Picassos from art galleries on cruise ships.)

One of the upsides of a bad economy is that there are things sitting on the market at great prices that would have been snapped up a couple of years ago. If I had some money I needed to park somewhere, I'd be all over antique prints (even more than I am now, which is contemplating starving myself for my next Blake!)
Posted by Emily on February 6, 2009 at 12:07 PM
6
I know, between the lust for that Hogarth and the William Blake, a few little parts of my soul died last night.

Also Jen, thanks for the write up on Stella. I stopped by yesterday for that cappuccino and it lived up to your gushing.
Posted by Amanda M. on February 6, 2009 at 12:07 PM
7
FYI: On Sunday, the fair's hours are 11 - 5.
Posted by Cara Forrler on February 6, 2009 at 12:32 PM
8
Cara: Thanks, and sorry. I fixed it.

Emily: You have a Blake??
Posted by Jen Graves on February 6, 2009 at 1:06 PM
9
I was at Ben Beres's show last night, the work is AWESOME!
Posted by Donnie on February 6, 2009 at 1:13 PM

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