Print of Clowns Appraisal
Category: Print
Description
This artwork is a framed print depicting two clowns in close proximity. One clown, seen in profile, is a male with a red nose and dark face paint. He is looking down at the female clown. The female clown, facing the viewer, has white face paint with red heart shapes under her eyes, which are streaming tears. Her lips are painted red. A male hand is gently cupping her face. The background is dark. The colors are vibrant and the details in the faces and clothing are rendered with a degree of realism, particularly evident around the eyes and the texture of the male clown's clothing. The print is housed in a dark brown, possibly wooden, frame with a subtle wood grain texture. Inside the frame is a brown matboard. The edges of the matboard appear slightly lighter, suggesting beveling. At the bottom left of the print, there appears to be text indicating a limited edition print number, likely in the format of a fraction. At the bottom right, there seems to be a signature, potentially of the artist. The print appears to be in good condition with no visible damage or significant wear to the image itself. The frame and mat also appear to be in relatively good condition. The style of the artwork suggests it could be from the late 20th or early 21st century, leaning towards a contemporary representational style.
Appraisal Report
Based on my visual examination of this framed print of two clowns, I assess the condition of the print itself to be excellent, with no visible damage or wear. The colors appear vibrant. The frame and matboard also appear to be in good condition. Authenticity cannot be definitively determined from an image alone. While there are apparent markings for a limited edition number and a signature, physical inspection would be required to authenticate these markings and confirm the print's originality. Market conditions for limited edition prints, particularly of figurative or representational art like this, vary widely depending on the artist's notoriety and the specific subject matter. Comparables would need to be found for other limited edition prints by the same artist to get a more precise valuation. The subject matter of clowns can have a niche market appeal. The perceived rarity is related to the limited edition number; a smaller edition size generally correlates with higher value, all other factors being equal. Factors significantly impacting value include the artist's reputation, the actual limited edition size, the printmaking technique, and proven sales records for similar works. For full authentication, I would require in-person examination to assess the printmaking process, close examination of the signature and edition number for authenticity markers, and provenance documentation tracing the print's ownership history. Scientific testing of the inks and paper could also be employed if necessary. Given the limitations of image-based appraisal, the value provided is an estimate based on the apparent quality and condition of the observed print and frame.
Appraisal Value
$150-300