Signed and Dated Contemporary Landscape Photograph

This item is a contemporary photographic print, likely a landscape, presented within a professional archival mount. The visible portion of the image shows a detailed field of tall green grass and wild flora, rendered with a shallow depth of field. Below the bottom-right corner of the image, the photographer has provided a handwritten signature in graphite or a fine-tip permanent marker. The signature appears to be 'John' followed by the date '06', indicating the piece was created or signed in 2006. The matting is a high-quality, thick, off-white or light grey acid-free board with a clean, bevel-cut window. The precision of the bevel cut suggests professional framing. Physically, the paper has a semi-matte or luster finish characteristic of modern high-end inkjet (giclée) or C-print photography. There is a minor visible crease or surface imperfection on the mat board near the top right corner of the signature area, which may affect the aesthetic value but is common for handled paper goods. The script is fluid and executed with confidence, which is an indicator of direct artist involvement. This style of landscape photography and personalized dating was very popular in the early 21st-century art market.

I have virtually examined this contemporary landscape photograph, dated 2006. The work demonstrates high production standards, featuring a professional bevel-cut archival mat and a luster-finish print indicative of a high-end giclée or chromogenic process. The fluid graphite signature and '06' dating denote direct artist involvement, which is a primary driver of value in the fine art print market. The shallow depth-of-field composition aligns with botanical minimalism trends of the early 2000s. The condition appears generally excellent, though the minor crease on the mat board near the signature area is noted; while this does not damage the print itself, it may necessitate re-matting for selective collectors. Modern landscape photography remains a saturated market, but signed, dated works from this period maintain steady demand among residential and corporate decorators. Comparables for mid-career contemporary photographers with similar 'signature and date' formats typically range from $300 to $900 depending on the artist's specific exhibition history. Because the artist's surname is not fully legible from the signature alone, this valuation assumes a regional or mid-tier artist. Limitations: This appraisal is based solely on digital imagery. Verification of the print medium (to distinguish between an inkjet and a traditional C-print) requires a high-power loupe inspection. For definitive authentication, I require provenance documentation, such as a gallery invoice or a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). A physical inspection would also be necessary to check for 'silvering' or UV-induced fading hidden by digital white balance corrections.