Featured Prints vs Paintings

Hi all

Are these the "dots" that are referred to when identifying if a painting is actually a print?



For reference/context these are the pictures that have been posted for sale. Not my images I don't own them.



Thank you

 

Close up pic, looks more like the texture of a canvas, but most oils or acrylics don’t have glass in front like watercolours or prints do to protect them.

 

It almost has to be a canvas that you're looking at and not a photo reproduction. Its easy to see why youre confused because the key when looking for a photo reproduction is that the rosettes (hexagon pattern) are of uniform size. The hexagon pattern here is also uniform, but if we were seeing it in real life we'd notice the texture of the paint immediately and so this sort of problem doesnt occur when studying things up close. But here with just pics. its confusing. In photo reproduction each rosette will hold just one primary color e.g. red. Just like the little pixels you see on your TV screen. They combine these colored dots in ways to produce the other colors.


Google rosettes and photo reproduction and you will probably find some better examples of photo reproduction, with experience it will be easier to spot.

 

The dots that appear in halftone prints are not that obvious, usually requiring magnification (or really good eyesight) to be visible. We just had a discussion of this type of photo mechanical print on another thread - https://www.antiquers.com/threads/is-this-a-print-its-always-a-print.50087/#post-2197859 - and @Couch Potato Wannabe included a nice illustration of the effect.

The pattern in the artwork you posted does look like canvas. But I would reserve judgment on whether it is an actual painting. Prints may reproduce the appearance of a painting on canvas. And there is also a technique of printing on textured canvas that is used to imitate paintings. You really need to see the actual paint surface to be sure.

 

This is the bit that has me thinking it's a print:


I don't see getting a pattern like that with a brush. I don't think you would get a pattern like that on a painting unless it has been "scrubbed" (grossly over-cleaned).

Is this on canvas? Prints can be made on canvas. Take it out of the frame for a better look. If it's on paper, it's certainly a print.

It's not possible to be sure one way or the other from these photos. Your photos have to be very close and very sharp to tell.

 

What you're showing is the pattern of the canvas. The "dots" you are speaking of are just that, "dots". You would need to look at this piece under higher magnification to see them well. Any type of pattern of "dots" would signify a print.

dot by Cris Drugan ISA-AM posted May 27, 2020 at 11:48 AM

matrix by Cris Drugan ISA-AM posted May 27, 2020 at 11:48 AM

 

The lower one may be a print as it seems to have been sold that way before.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/framed-seascape-yacht-pallas-yarmouth-1690683195

 

The other also seems to have been sold as a print sometimes.
https://www.easyliveauction.com/cat...eb9357e7ef448a6646f/collectables-and-general/