Understanding “Attributed,” “After,” and “Style & Manner”
The Big Question
Q: What are my chances of getting a painting authenticated or proving it’s really by the artist?
A: Our chances of getting a painting authenticated are exceptionally close to ZERO. In the great majority of cases where art is being attributed, the seller making the attribution in combination with the item description and other circumstantial indications surrounding the sale tell you at least as much, if not more, than the art itself
ATTRIBUTED
In art, “attributed to” is a term used to express uncertainty when the attribution of a work to a known artist is in question. It is an is an assessment of who was responsible for creating a particular work. It can mean that the work is probably or possibly by the artist, but it may be unsigned, unmarked, or lack adequate provenance or background. It can also mean that there is a strong likelihood that the work is by the creator, but the documentation or certificates have not been discovered yet. Also, an attribution by a qualified expert or authority does not mean the art is by the artist, only that in his or her opinion it’s likely to be by that artist. The more you research, the more you know. History counts. Like comparisons can assist. Especially the finite details. It’s definitely not obvious all the time. A very good Art Advisor can help. Gallery Experts can help. Provenance can help. A lot to factor in. But; for example, if an reputable auction house catalog reads “Attributed to Cy Twombly,” it means their in-house specialists believe there is a strong, legitimate possibility the painting/work is authentic, but they lack the final piece of definitive paperwork to guarantee it.
AFTER
You may be visiting a museum, auction or gallery and see the term “After” behind the artist’s name and wonder what that means. Simply put, it means that it is a reproduction or a copy of that artist’s work. Did the artist approve this copy? Was the artist involved its’ creation? Approve it? Did the artist sign it? or was it just the publisher using the rights to do it. Many meanings can go into and “After” and it affects a lot. Likewise, a similar example of this is when you see an artist painting a copy of a painting in a museum. This copy is not a fake because no one is claiming that the original artist did the painting nor are the copyist claiming that they are the original artist of the composition. This practice has been going on for centuries. In fact, many ancient Roman sculptures are “After’s” because they copied the Greek sculptures. We should be happy that they did because many of the Greek sculptures have been destroyed and the Roman copies are they only way that we know what they looked like. Think about that.
So,there are different levels to “afters”…
The highest level is when the original artist is actually involved or approves the “after”. An example of this is when Picasso created a painting and then an original etching or lithograph is created by another artist under Picasso’s approval of the painting. Picasso would then sign the “after”. Also note that Picasso created many ‘original lithographs’ and etchings that are not based on any other art. These are by Picasso and are not considered “afters”.
The lowest level of an “after” is when a copyist is far removed from the artist by either association or time. Also, there is no automatic correlation of “by” and “after” to “hand signed” and “hand numbered”. Some works “by” Picasso are hand signed and hand numbered, but some are not. Some works “after” Picasso are hand signed and hand numbered, but again some are not. Some “afters” can be very valuable, selling for over $110,000. Most are considerably less than what the art by the original artist is sold for. It just depends on the level and quality of the “after”.
STYLE AND MANNER
Indicates the influence of the “style” of the known artist; but carries the connotation that the known artist had little or nothing to do with the actual work at hand. Also, style in art refers to an artist’s unique combination of techniques, processes, and decisions. It develops and evolves over the lifetime of an artist. A distinct style can help with an artist’s branding and recognition. Many people could recognize Vincent van Gogh’s work without seeing the name. Further, an art movement refers to specific trends, periods, and groups of artists. Each movement is associated with a certain style, but a style is not limited to a certain movement.
For example, I can paint in an impressionistic style today, but that does not mean I am part of the Impressionist art movement. In the “manner” of is the method of artistic execution or mode of presentation: It is work done in the style of the named artist but after their lifetime. Style is a distinctive manner of expression or a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed.
Note; this is an example of how an Art Gallery or an Auction House might explain a possibly good piece of art to you that might be an excellent find…
‘This print is a vintage, hand signed artwork. The artwork was curated from different auctions, estate liquidations, rare books, portfolios and a large compilation of art sites. The artwork is in good condition with expected handling, creasing, and age toning for a vintage artwork of this age. It is an After and the signature is attributed to the Artist.’
With that explanation you might be looking at a very desirable piece of art that you really want to buy because it speaks to you and/or you think it is a good investment to own or maybe sell later. But it requires due diligence on your part…