Edition Size
An edition size describes the total amount of exact copies or reproductions of a certain artwork that an artist or publisher intends to make available. This number will always remain fixed and is limited, which makes every piece asigned as part of a limited edition. In both art collecting and marketing, the concept of edition size is significant due to how it affects the scarcity and value of each piece within the edition.
The term edition size came into common usage with the expansion of print reproduction in the 20th century in conjunction with lithography and etching. Artists like A. Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein opted for edition sizes in order to reach broader audiences and enable the democratization of art by making it accessible to larger audiences.
Prominent artists known for using limited edition sizes are D. Hirst who painted a series of spot paintings and sold them in editions of different sizes, and street artist Shepard Fairey who is best known for his politically charged prints such as the ‘Hope’ poster for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
The number of copies available serves as an intricate detail collectors must keenly observe since it affects both the intentioned accessibility and social exclusivity of the item. In terms of the market value of art, artists can dictate the level of distribution of their works needed so as not to diminish the value owing to oversaturation by controlling the size of their number of copies.
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