"Italian Desserts, " Etching signed by Wayne Thiebaud
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Milwaukee, WI
An etching in red by American pop artist Wayne Thiebaud depicting six Italian desserts.
1970s Contemporary Still-life Prints
Etching
"Italian Desserts, " Etching signed by Wayne Thiebaud
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Milwaukee, WI
An etching in red by American pop artist Wayne Thiebaud depicting six Italian desserts.
Etching
Price Upon Request
Clown, from Recent Etchings I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
About the Framing: Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Wayne Thiebaud Clown, from Recent Etchings I, 1979 is presented in a complementary moulding and optical grade Plexi...
Etching, Aquatint
Breakfast - Pop Art, Post War, Color Etching, 1995
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palm Desert, CA
“Breakfast” is a colored etching and drypoint by American artist, Wayne Thiebaud from 1995.
Paper, Drypoint, Etching
Price Upon Request
Heart Ridge Etching, Contemporary Drypoint Landscape, 21st Century
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
The images in Wayne Thiebaud's drypoints fill the space around them, carving into it. They are images of mountains. In one, only the mountaintop shows and a gigantic cloud is in the ...
Drypoint, Etching
Price Upon Request
Cone Etching Print, Pop Art Style, Signed, 21st Century, 6.5x8 in
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil.
Etching
$6,800
Cone
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Created by Wayne Thiebaud in 1995, Cone is an original etching on Somerset paper.
Etching
Price Upon Request
Banana Splits
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Included in the artist’s early, renowned Delights suite, Wayne Thiebaud created Banana Splits in 1964 as an original etching, the artwork hand-signed, titled, dated and numbered in p...
Etching
Candy Apples - Candy Americana
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in London, GB
This original etching and aquatint is hand signed in pencil by the artist "Thiebaud", at the lower right margin. It is dated ‘65’ [1965] next to the signature. It is also hand numbe...
Etching, Aquatint
Rose, from Recent Etchings II
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in San Francisco, CA
Framed: 39 3/8 x 30 1/8 x 1 1/2 inches, 3/4 inch face, Wood frame Wayne Thiebaud was born Mesa, Arizona in 1920, and his family soon moved to Los Angeles in 1921. In high school he ...
Etching
Price Upon Request
Dark Gumball Machine
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Wayne Thiebaud Dark Gumball Machine, 1964/ 2017 Hard ground and soft ground etching 18h x 12w in
Etching
Price Upon Request
River Turns Etching, Pop Art Style, Signed, 21st Century Edition
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Wayne Thiebaud has long been recognized as one of America’s most prominent modern artists. Probably best known for his straightforward, deadpan still-life paintings of the 1960s, and...
Drypoint, Etching
Unavailable
H 20 in W 23 in
Wayne Thiebaud Original Seven Dogs Drypoint Etching Hand Signed Framed Artwork
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Bloomington, MN
Wayne Thiebaud Hand Signed and Numbered Drypoint "Seven Dogs", Professionally Custom Framed and listed with the Submit Best Offer option Accepting Offers Now: Up for sale here we ...
Drypoint
Cherry Cakes (Recent Etchings II)
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Presented by 'F.L. Braswell Fine Art' for Market Art & Design Etching and aquatint Publisher, Parasol Press, New York Printer, Crown Point Press, San Francisco Edition of 50 Signed a...
Etching
Cherry Cakes (Recent Etchings II)
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Presented by 'F.L. Braswell Fine Art' for Market Art & Design Presented by F.L. Braswell Fine Art: Etching and aquatint Publisher, Parasol Press, New York Printer, Crown Point Press,...
Etching
Country City
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Original Wayne Thiebaud Color Etching and Aquatint on Somerset paper.
Aquatint, Color, Etching, Paper
Night River
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Wayne THIEBAUD Night River, 1998/2011 Hard ground etching with drypoint and aquatint printed in blue and black, ed. 9 of 40 15 x 20 in.
Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint
Six Desserts
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Six Desserts, from Recent Etchings II, 1973 Etching 29 3/4 x 22 3/4 inches Edition of 50 Signed, numbered and dated in pencil THIE393B
Etching
Bacon and Eggs, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Bacon and Eggs, from Delights, 1965 Etching 14 7/8 x 11 inches Edition of 100 Signed THIE054B
Etching
Little Red Suckers
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1971/2014 Aquatint etching printed in red Sheet: 10-3/16" x 10-1/2" (25.9 x 26.7 cm) Image: 5" x 6" (12.7 x 15.2 cm) Edition of 35 + 10 AP
Etching, Aquatint
Peppermints
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Etching on BFK Rives paper
Etching
Dark Reservoir
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sheet: 28" x 32" (71.1 x 81.3 cm) Image: 20" x 25" (50.8 x 63.5 cm) Edition of 20 + 10 artist proofs Signed, dated and numbered on lower recto; titled on lower right verso
Aquatint, Drypoint, Etching, Paper
Hot Chocolate
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 2002, this direct etching with drypoint printed in brown hand-signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower right margin and is numbered ...
Drypoint, Etching
Gumball Machine, 1964 - 2017
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1964/2017, this color hard ground and soft ground etching is hand-signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower center margin and is date...
Etching
Shoe Rows
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Shoe Rows" is an original etching and aquatint by Wayne Thiebaud. The artist signed the piece in pencil in the lower right.
Etching, Aquatint
Pie Case
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 2002, this color etching with aquatint and drypoint on Somerset wove paper is hand-signed and dated by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lowe...
Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint
Palms
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in London, GB
Etching, 1965. Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 25. Printed on Rives BFK paper. Published by Parasol Press, New York. 29.8 × 27.6 cm
Etching
Country City
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in London, GB
Etching and aquatint printed in colours, 1988. Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 60. Printed on Somerset Satin paper. Published by Crown Point Press, San Francisco wi...
Aquatint, Etching
Sold
H 26.5 in W 33.5 in
Bird on a Swing, from Recent Etchings I by Wayne Thiebaud
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bird on a Swing" is a striking and quiet example of the Pop Art images of the artist Wayne Thiebaud, using his bright coloration for a single figure in an empty setting.
Etching, Aquatint
Down 18th Street
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Down 18th Street" is an urban pictorial etching in blue from 1979. It is numbered 41/50, signed, and dated lower right in pencil. 19 3/4" x 15 3/4" art 34 1/4" x 30 1/4" framed Wa...
Etching
Cherry Stand, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Signed by the artist in pencil lower right and framed in a silver leaf frame.
Etching
Snack Bar
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Wayne Thiebaud Snack Bar, 2017 color sugarlift aquatint with drypoint 21.50h x 27.50w in paper size 30.25 x 35.5 edition of 35
Drypoint, Etching
Banana Splits
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in San Francisco, CA
From Delights Portfolio
Etching
Bird
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Color Soft Ground Etching with Aquatint Publisher: Crown Point Press
Etching, Aquatint
Rose, from Recent Etchings II
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 50 plus 10 artist's proofs Signed, numbered and dated in pencil
Etching
Downgrade, from Recent Etchings I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 50 plus 10 artist's proofs Signed lower right in pencil, annotated
Etching
Six Desserts, from Recent Etchings II
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 50 Signed, numbered and dated in pencil $5,000 - $10,000
Etching
Six Desserts, from Recent Etchings II
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 50 plus 10 artist's proofs Signed, numbered and dated in pencil
Etching
Boxed Balls, Recent Etchings II
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 50 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
Daffodil, from Recent Etchings I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 50 plus 10 artist's proofs Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
Downgrade, from Recent Etchings I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 50 Signed, numbered and dated in pencil THIE005A
Daffodil, from Recent Etchings I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 50 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil $20,000 - $25,000
Boxed Balls, from Recent Etchings II
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 50 plus 10 artist's proofs Signed, numbered and dated in pencil
Suckers
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
Etching
Delicatessen, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
Etching
Double Deckers,
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil $15,000 - $20,000
Etching
Sold
H 12 in W 10 in
Club Sandwich, from "Delights"
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil $5,000 - $10,000
Etching
Lunch Counter
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
Etching
Sold
H 12 in W 10 in
Banana Splits, from "Delights"
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil $10,000 - $15,000
Etching
Night Farm (TPA/35)
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Austin, TX
Additional Information: Wayne Thiebaud’s education and prior career as a commercial artist undoubtedly informed his advertisement-like aesthetic and a heavy focus on commonplace obje...
Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint
Suckers, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, numbered, dated and titled in pencil
Etching
Delicatessen, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, numbered, dated and titled in pencil
Etching
Club Sandwich, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, numbered, dated and titled in pencil
Etching
Banana Splits, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, numbered, dated and titled in pencil
Etching
Lunch Counter, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, numbered, dated and titled in pencil
Etching
Double Deckers, from Delights
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edition of 100 Signed, numbered, dated and titled in pencil
Etching
Sketches
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hard-ground etching 21 3/4 x 30 inches Edition of 50 Signed and numbered THIE659A
Etching
Country City
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Country City, 1988 Etching and aquatint 30 3/4 x 40 7/8 inches Edition 60 Signed and numbered in pencil THIE656A
Aquatint, Etching
Cakes and Pies, 2006
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Cakes and Pies, 2006 Etching Image: 22 x 18 1/4 inches Sheet: 30 x 25 1/2 inches Edition of 40 THIE600B
Etching
Pies
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lo...
Etching
Double Decker
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Etching
Bacon and Eggs
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Drypoint, Etching
Candied Apples
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Drypoint, Etching
Lemon Meringue
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Drypoint, Etching
Banana Splits
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Drypoint, Etching
Sold
H 19.3 in W 15.75 in
Hotel Corner: Limited Edition Etching by Wayne Thiebaud, dated 1979 - 1998
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in London, Hertfordshire
This is a limited edition etching with drypoint, that Wayne Thiebaud worked on back in 1979 with Crown Point Press in San Francisco and then printed later in 1998 with Daria Sywulak ...
Drypoint, Etching
Dark Chocolate
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in San Francisco, CA
Direct gravure. Image size: 4¾ x 6¾"; paper size: 9½ x 10¾". Edition 35. Published by Crown Point Press
Etching
Gum Machine
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Sheet size: 12 8/9 x 10 7/8 inches Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled,...
Etching
Cherry Stand
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
From the Delights Portfolio Printer: Kathan Brown, Oakland, CA Publisher: Crown Point Press, CA Edition size: 100, plus proofs Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Drypoint, Etching
$1,600
H 16 in W 22.88 in
Untitled (One Cent Life) /// Joan Mitchell Female Artist Abstract Expressionism
By Joan Mitchell
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Joan Mitchell (American, 1925-1992) Title: "Untitled" (Page 92-93) Portfolio: One Cent Life *Unsigned edition Year: 1964 Medium: Original Lithograph on wove paper Limited edi...
Lithograph
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
Pair of Modern Walnut Side Tables
By Theodore Alexander
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Pacific walnut side table, the square top with rounded corners and a reeded edge above a similar under tier, on bobbin turned legs. Dimensions: 26" W x 26" D x 28.5" H.
Wood
Leather Meander Wall Sconce
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Our updated Meander Reader light with leather wrapped flexible arm and a larger cone shade and new upward angle feature. Bulb can be fully recessed. Comes with suggested LED bulb. ...
Brass
Rosso Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Crafted in the finest Murano tradition, this exquisite Venetian mirror is a true work of art. Assembled with crystal and gold elements, and adorned with red glass flowers, each piece...
Glass
$540Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 4.14 in W 2.56 in D 4.14 in
Set of 12 Handmade Unique Goto Murano Drinking Glasses
By Roberto Beltrami
Located in Murano, VE
The Murano Glass Goto collection brings a piece of authentic Italian art to your dining table. Hand-blown with artistic expertise, these glasses are inspired by the traditional Venet...
Murano Glass
$652Sale Price / item|55% Off
H 33.47 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Dining Chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, Model Razorblade, Denmark, Oak
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of striking dining chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, made of oak and boucle. Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Modernism. Model: Razorblade ...
Oak
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.63 in W 12.69 in
Fernand Leger, Untitled, from Circus, 1950
By Fernand Léger
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Fernand Leger (1881–1955), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Cirque, Lithographies Originales (Circus, Original Lithographs), originates from ...
Lithograph
$791Sale Price / item|47% Off
H 33.47 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Dining Chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, Model Razoblade, Denmark, Oak
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of striking dining chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, made of oak and honey coloured lambskin. Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Modernism. M...
Oak
$6,950 / item
H 47.25 in Dm 21.66 in
Florian Schulz Double Onos 55-Pendant Lamp with Side Counter Weights
By Florian Schulz
Located in Berlin, DE
Really beautiful Florian Schulz double Onos 55-pendant lamp with one E27 / model for each lamp 100 Watt bulbs. Also available in US wired.
Brass
Pink Marble Pedestal Cone Side Table
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Introduce monumental elegance and a grounded detail to your interior with the stunning pink marble CONE side table. The sculptural geometric shape of this contemporary design piece ...
Marble
$279Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 4.14 in W 2.56 in D 4.14 in
Set of 6 Handmade Unique Goto Murano Drinking Glasses
By Roberto Beltrami
Located in Murano, VE
The Murano Glass Goto collection brings a piece of authentic Italian art to your dining table. Hand-blown with artistic expertise, these glasses are inspired by the traditional Venet...
Murano Glass
$6,450 / set
H 32.88 in W 78.75 in D 63.19 in
Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Set with Table, Bench, Set of Chairs
By Rainer Daumiller
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining room set consisting of a dining table, bench, and pair of chairs, solid beech, Scandinavia, 1980s This expansive dining room set is a rare find, distinguished by its exceptio...
Beech
Organic Shaped Modern Coffee Table by Last Workshop, Walnut
By Last Workshop
Located in Chicago, IL
Organic shaped coffee table by Last Workshop, 2023 Solid walnut wood finish. IN STOCK: 1 If not in stock, current production: 6-7 weeks 58"L x 32" x 15"H Walnut finish. Customers ...
Hardwood, Walnut
Radicchio Hand-Painted Ceramic Serving Tray, Made in Italy
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bring the beauty of the garden to your home with our hand-painted radicchio-style plate in a pink hue. Perfect for tableware, this serving tray/platter adds a touch of natural elegan...
Ceramic
$1,862 / set
H 29.93 in W 20.08 in D 20.08 in
Set of 4 Lucite Pink and Chrome Plia Chairs, Piretti for Castelli, Italy 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Roma, IT
Set of 4 original and signed "Plia" pink lucite folding chairs. NOS (new old Stock) This fantastic set was designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli in 1967. PLIA, the symbol of a n...
Steel, Chrome
Wayne Thiebaud’s pastel-hued still-life paintings and prints of baked goods, gumball machines, hot dogs and paint cans are often associated with the Pop art movement, thanks to the mass-cultural appeal of their content. Stylistically, however, Thiebaud eschewed the precision found in the art of such Pop giants as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol in favor of a more painterly approach, not unlike that of the Italian modernist Giorgio Morandi, whose dreamy paintings of vessels and household objects are simple yet richly atmospheric.
Thiebaud was born in Mesa, Arizona, in 1920 and grew up in Southern California from the age of six months. As a high schooler, he had a summer apprenticeship at Walt Disney Studios, which led to a stint as a graphic artist in the U.S. Army Air Forces’ First Motion Picture Unit during World War II. After the war, he attended the California State College at Sacramento on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1951 and earning a master’s soon after. He went on to teach at the University of California, Davis, from 1960 to ’91.
In the late ’50s, time spent living in New York City proved crucial to Thiebaud’s career. There, he befriended Abstract Expressionist painters Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline and drew inspiration from the work of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Admiring the color and form on display in New York’s many bakeries, he began painting small canvases featuring rows of treats, which would become one of his central subjects. Though Thiebaud himself doesn’t identify as a Pop artist, the first major exhibition that brought him national renown was a seminal 1962 Pop show at the Sidney Janis Gallery in Manhattan. That same year, he was included in "New Painting of Common Objects” at the Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, which also featured paintings by Ed Ruscha and Jim Dine. Iconic works such as Pie Counter (1963) demonstrate Thiebaud’s signature treatment of commonplace items with the grandeur and scale of a landscape.
Thiebaud’s interest in exaggerated colors and vernacular subject matter — characteristics that call to mind images found in mid-century advertising — made him an intriguing figure occupying the hazy borderlands between fine and commercial art. Yet through a masterful handling of paint, evocative use of light and poignant sense of isolation, Thiebaud’s work is unquestionably thoughtful and singular. His later forays into landscape painting, as seen in Steep Street (1989) or Country City (1988), bring to bear his bold use of color on complex urban scenes.
Pieces by Thiebaud can be found in the collections of major museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, among many others. In 1994, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton.
Find original Wayne Thiebaud art on 1stDibs.
Decorating with fine art prints — whether they’re figurative prints, abstract prints or another variety — has always been a practical way of bringing a space to life as well as bringing works by an artist you love into your home.
Pursued in the 1960s and ’70s, largely by Pop artists drawn to its associations with mass production, advertising, packaging and seriality, as well as those challenging the primacy of the Abstract Expressionist brushstroke, printmaking was embraced in the 1980s by painters and conceptual artists ranging from David Salle and Elizabeth Murray to Adrian Piper and Sherrie Levine.
Printmaking is the transfer of an image from one surface to another. An artist takes a material like stone, metal, wood or wax, carves, incises, draws or otherwise marks it with an image, inks or paints it and then transfers the image to a piece of paper or other material.
Fine art prints are frequently confused with their more commercial counterparts. After all, our closest connection to the printed image is through mass-produced newspapers, magazines and books, and many people don’t realize that even though prints are editions, they start with an original image created by an artist with the intent of reproducing it in a small batch. Fine art prints are created in strictly limited editions — 20 or 30 or maybe 50 — and are always based on an image created specifically to be made into an edition.
Many people think of revered Dutch artist Rembrandt as a painter but may not know that he was a printmaker as well. His prints have been preserved in time along with the work of other celebrated printmakers such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. These fine art prints are still highly sought after by collectors.
“It’s another tool in the artist’s toolbox, just like painting or sculpture or anything else that an artist uses in the service of mark making or expressing him- or herself,” says International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) vice president Betsy Senior, of New York’s Betsy Senior Fine Art, Inc.
Because artist’s editions tend to be more affordable and available than his or her unique works, they’re more accessible and can be a great opportunity to bring a variety of colors, textures and shapes into a space.
For tight corners, select small fine art prints as opposed to the oversized bold piece you’ll hang as a focal point in the dining area. But be careful not to choose something that is too big for your space. And feel free to lean into it if need be — not every work needs picture-hanging hooks. Leaning a larger fine art print against the wall behind a bookcase can add a stylish installation-type dynamic to your living room. (Read more about how to arrange wall art here.)
Find fine art prints for sale on 1stDibs today.