Page 80 - Life_In_Naples_December_2018

The Bias toward Oil
ASK THE

artsperts

www.harmonmeek.com

by Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek 599 NINTH STREET NORTH SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637
Dear Artspert: in the marketplace. One

I was told that I have to buy oil on canvas. Is that considered the being the aesthetic of glass
best and most valuable type of painting? and perhaps the resulting
Signed, reflection. However, Museum
Canva$ed Glass and Optium Acrylic are
anti-reflective and provide a
Dear, Canva$ed solution to this issue.
A second factor, and
The simple answer is no. There is no reason for oil paint to be
probably the more driving of
considered better than other types of paint media. However, there is a
the two, is that when people
clear bias in the marketplace which has less to do with the medium of
visit major museums, it is
oil, but rather the surface on which it is painted. Works on canvas or
unlikely they will see works
panel are believed to be more valuable than works on paper. A belief
that is not based on the work itself but rather because of perhaps an One of the displays for items depicting on paper exhibited. This is
“Spring in Central Park” by Adolf Dehn not because museums do not
aesthetic aversion to works behind glass or the misconception that
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Met
museums and academics do not value works on paper. Store. Its popularity and reproduction collect works on paper. Art
It is often thought on countless items have made this museums have many works
that oil paintings painting the most recognized, yet unseen on paper in their permanent
work in New York City. collections and continue
are best, but in our
to add works on paper to
observation those
their collections. In the past year we have brokered the donation
who are asking for oil
of several works on paper to museums that were thrilled to receive
paintings cannot see
these works. However, museums don’t tend to exhibit works on
the difference between
paper from their permanent collections. These works are often kept
acrylic, casein, oil, and
in dark storage because museums are concerned with fading or light
egg tempera paint
damaging the paper. A museum’s most important purpose is to
until we explain the
ensure paintings are protected for the ages.
differences in media.
The most famous example of this is the watercolor painting, “Spring
What most are actually
in Central Park” by Adolf Dehn (1895-1968). The work was acquired
“Spring in Central Park” by Adolf Dehn, trying to differentiate
Watercolor, 1941. This work is in the between is works on by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York shortly after it was
permanent collection of the Metropolitan canvas/panel versus work created in 1941. To our knowledge, it has not been exhibited in decades.
Museum of Art in New York. However, it Yet, the work is so well loved that the museum shop has reproduced
is kept in dark storage, and has not been on paper. The noticeable
exhibited in decades. and obvious difference the image on countless items. It has become the most recognized, yet
unseen painting in New York City.
being that works on
So, if museums are this concerned with fading, should you have the
paper must be framed behind glass or Plexiglas to protect the
same concern when adding works on paper to your own collection?
paper. Watercolor, pastel, crayon, ink are all forms of medium that
No, advances in modern day framing techniques have negated these
must be painted on paper and therefore framed behind glass.
concerns of the past. Products like Museum Glass, UV Plexiglas,
The choice of medium an artist works in does not in any way
Optium Acrylic, and acid free materials protect watercolors from fading
reflect the proficiency of the artist. In fact, watercolor is one of the
and paper from deteriorating. You can also exercise extra caution by
most challenging forms of medium to master. However, prices do
hanging works on paper away from direct sunlight.
reflect the bias against works on paper in the marketplace. An artist’s
By understanding that the marketplace bias toward oil paintings
work on canvas or panel will almost always be priced higher than the
is not based on any knowledgeable reasons, you can take advantage
same artist’s work in paper. This is based purely on market factors of
of the lower prices of works on paper to add truly wonderful works
supply and demand and the false perception that works on paper are
to your own collection.
somehow inferior. This is unfortunate because collectors are missing
out on truly magnificent works by disregarding works on paper. Sincerely,
There are probably many factors that led to this false perception The Artsperts
80 Life in Naples | December 2018