Tips for buying affordable art

Many people find it difficult to understand why art has to be so expensive and therefore sometimes unaffordable. But beautiful and high-quality art though can be affordable. In this article, we will try to give an overview which categories of art are more 'affordable' than others and why that is. Hopefully, we will be able to surprise you in this article with a number of concrete examples of artworks, which might fit within your budget and are more affordable than you first suspected!

What actually determines the price of art?
 

The price of art is mainly determined by the reputation of the artist in question, the supply and demand at that moment (scarcity and trends), the quality and progressiveness of the work of art, the use of materials and often the size of the work of art. Larger works by the same artist are often more expensive than smaller works.

_{A colorful ceramic pot by Camille Fauré from the Art Nouveau period as an example of an affordable work of art}

Ceramics and glass as affordable art
 

The price of ceramics is often overestimated. Of course, we are all familiar with the expensive and rare Chinese porcelain or Delfts Blauw from the Dutch Golden Age. And indeed, if intact and in good condition, these works of art are often priceless. But this is less true for, for example, ceramic and glass art objects from the Art Deco or Art Nouveau period or contemporary ceramics, see also for example the collection of Het Ware Huis.  You can get very nice modern ceramics for around 500-1000 euros, see also at Galerie Carla Koch. 

_{Example of affordable art; for more ceramics also check out Galerie Carla Koch}

But glassware and ceramics from the Art Nouveau or Art Deco period are also quite affordable. There are still beautiful, unique works of age available at a reasonable price.

^{'Calla' by Baccarat, an example of an affordable Art Nouveau vase from 1895, costs about 1.500 euros}

Etchings, lithos and engravings as affordable art
 

Art on paper (prints), such as drawings, etchings, engravings and lithos are often less expensive than the original paintings on canvas. This while works on paper can often be just as beautiful. See for example the engravings of Alma Tadema.

_{Affordable art; an engraving by Alma Tadema after the original painting, the original painting would cost millions!}

The paper versions are more affordable because they are printed in a certain edition and are therefore often less rare. On the other hand, lithographs or engravings are very fragile and many will not survive the test of time. So pay close attention to the print run and how many copies are still on the market. Some of these prints are even signed by the original artist himself! 

_{Example of affordable art: a lithograph of Marc Chagall, for sale for a few hundred euro's. Also check Hans den Hollander Prints or Art House Chagall}

Art Nouveau and Art Deco as affordable art
 

About 100 to 150 years ago you had the Art Deco and Art Nouveau period. In these periods people started to make more applied art and art on a larger scale with a quality that you hardly see nowadays! One can still buy very beautiful works of art from this period for a relatively affordable price, see also the example below.

_{Affordable art; an Art Deco sculpture that is relatively affordable, also check out 'Het Ware Huis' for more Art Deco and Art Nouveau art!}

Paintings as affordable art
 

Quality paintings by lesser known artists are often quite affordable. Better a good painting by an unknown artist than a bad painting by a famous one. Nevertheless, this is not always reflected in the prices and there is still plenty to discover. Check at Gallerease for more affordable paintings.

_{Example of affordable art; see for more beautiful paintings of lesser known painters at Kunsthandel Marcel Gieling} 

Affordable antique art
 

It is often unimaginable that fragile, antique objects such as glassware, ceramics, or paper engravings have survived the test of time. This is not always reflected in the price we pay for them today. Perhaps this is because these objects do not always easily fit into our modern interiors. But in an eclectic interior, older objects with their 'own story' could fit in very well. Think for example of antique furniture that is often quite affordable and more durable than the standard IKEA furniture!

 _{Example of affordable art; a map from the 16th century can be bought for a few hundred euro's, see also Inter-Antiquariaat Mefferdt & De Jonge}

Modern photography as affordable art
 

Modern or contemporary photography can become a beautiful part of your interior. Beautiful photography does not always have to be very expensive, especially if you buy work from relatively 'unknown' artists, you can get hold of some wonderful works. For affordable photography, see also Dik Nicolaï, Fotogalerie Utrecht or Christine Fokkelman (see also the image in the header). 

_{Affordable art; photography does not always have to be priceless, see here also a work of Dik Nicolaï}

Are you looking for more 'affordable art' from renowned galleries? Then you can easily search by price, categorie, style and period here at Gallerease!