As a collector, many wonder if there is a possibility to buy originals from some of the great Impressionists and Post Impressionists. The answer is yes!
Who are the artists? They are Pissarro, Monet, Renoir Cezanne and Lautrec. Coincidentally, it was some of these artists that formed an association to mount exhibitions independently from the official system which controlled French artistic life.
But how? These artists are so old. We are talking late 1800’s. These artists are in the greatest museums. First, going to a museum is something everyone should do. Seeing art on display is good for the soul and the Galleries are eager for you to visit… Not the opposite. Everyone is welcome.
When these master painters were alive, visionary dealers and publishers realized that printmaking was the best way to commercialize modern art for the masses. It was a stroke of genius for the time and some key great artists got a chance to benefit from it.
How do I own one of these authentic originals? How do I find them?
These highly collectible Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists original graphic works remain affordable precisely because of large-edition portfolios and art books published in the early 20th century. Luckily for us there are loopholes that happened that make their works available. We are very fortunate for this. The key is to find the right pieces in the right Galleries and Auction Houses. Good research is needed. A good Art Advisor can help if needed. It is totally possible!
What’s incredible is that today, standard market trends value these early 20th-century editions anywhere from $100 to $4,500+, making them an excellent entry point for fine art collectors. Amazing, right? It’s true.
Key Artists & The Early 20th-Century Publications
1. Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Why they are collectible: Renoir retained his airy, light-filled style late into his life when he took up printmaking. Because he drew directly on lithographic stones or transfer paper, these works are actually authentic graphic works instead of modern photo reproductions.
The Early 20th-Century Loophole: Legendary art dealer Ambroise Vollard was a massive champion of Renoir. Right around Renoir’s death in 1919, Vollard published a series of portfolios and biographies containing original lithographs and etchings—such as the famous portrait of Ambroise Vollard (1919) and Le Chapeau Épinglé—printed in standard, larger editions of 1,000. Look for these.
Expected Price Range: $100 – $1,500 depending on the specific plate and margins.
2. Edouard Manet
Why they are collectible: Manet is considered the father of modernism, his bold linework translated excellently to graphic art production.
The Early 20th-Century Loophole: In 1910, the famous French art historian Théodore Duret published the landmark book Manet and the French Impressionists. To illustrate the book, original copper plates and lithographic stones created by Manet during his lifetime were pulled to create “lifetime” and “restrike” impressions directly bound into the luxury editions.
Expected Price Range: $600 – $2,000 for plates like La Convalescente or his famous portraits.
3. Camille Pissarro
Why they are collectible: Pissarro was in fact the most dedicated printmaker of the core Impressionist group. He was known to constantly be experimenting with textures.
Expected Price Range: $900 – $2,500 for heavily texturized landscapes like Paysans portant du foin.
The Early 20th-Century Loophole: Just like Manet, Pissarro’s original plates were heavily utilized in early 20th-century art collections and compilations; Parisian literary revues, and posthumous portfolios orchestrated by his family and dealers like Vollard.
4. Paul Cézanne
Why they are collectible: As a pioneer bridging Impressionism and Cubism, Cézanne created very few graphic works, making any original print highly sought after.
The Early 20th-Century Loophole: Cézanne allowed Vollard to publish his small output of lithographs and etchings. His famous Self Portrait lithograph and the etching Guillaumin au Pendu were re-issued in early 20th-century art volumes, allowing collectors to own a scarce image at a fraction of his painting prices. Ambroise Vollard also convinced Cezanne to draw two Bathers compositions on special transfer paper. Use a critical eye on this one. The Bathers published by Ambroise Vollard—you must look through specialized, blue-chip fine art channels and could cost anywhere between $10,000- $150,000. Target the 1914 Bernheim-Jeune portfolio editions. They commissioned prominent master printmakers to create interpretive tribute high-end Bather lithographs.
Expected Price Range: $600 – $2,500.
5. Toulouse Lautrec
Why are they collectible: Lautrec’s printmaking represents a rare convergence of technological perfection, historic importance, and affordability for iconic 19th-century graphic arts. The publication Les Maîtres de l’Affiche (1895 – 1900) right on the cusp of the 20th century; master printmaker Jules Chéret published a monthly subscription series reproducing the greatest posters of the era in a smaller, manageable 11×15-inch format.
The Loophole Prints: Rather than cheap magazine reprints, these were individual, fine-art color lithographs pulled directly from Chéret’s presses. Several of Toulouse-Lautrec’s most famous commercial posters—such as Divan Japonais and Aristide Bruant—were included as ‘official’ authorized plates.
Market Price: $1,500 – $4,500 (sometimes higher due to the immense popularity of his posters, but still a fraction of the $50,000+ cost of a full-sized billboard poster). Keep an eye out for versions produces in 1946-1950 that are very nice as superb decorative versions.
What are the Tips for Purchasing?
Verify the Catalogue Raisonné: Highly reputable print dealers will always list the exact catalogue raisonné reference number (such as Delteil or Johnson numbers) verifying the 20th-century origin book or portfolio.
Watch for “Pochoir” and “Afters”: Some early 20th-century prints are pochoirs (highly collectible, hand-stenciled layers of color recreating a painting) or prints “after” the artist. Make sure the listing clearly states whether the artist directly created the graphic medium or if it was pulled posthumously from their original stones.
Understanding the difference between an impression authorized or handled directly by the artist and a posthumous print is the most critical factor when collecting 20th-century graphics.
These legendary Impressionist and Post Impressionists have specific boundaries to buying which are important to know about and why they are original and collectible…
Renoir, Lautrec, Cezanne have works Directly Handled or Authorized works while living. The artist was alive, actively involved, and directly prepared the graphic medium (drawing onto the stones, copper plates, or transfer paper) specifically for these large-scale editions.
Manet, Pissaro and Lautrec have works were pulled Posthumously from Original Stones/Plates but the prints are still “authentic” graphic works because they were struck directly from the physical stone or metal plate the artist made during their lifetime, but they were printed after the artist died.
Cezanne has prints that are historic and collectible, but the artist never touched the final printing matrix. Because he only made two Bathers lithographs in his life, the gallery wanted to provide affordable alternatives. These are legally cataloged as “Lithographs after Cézanne”—historic and beautiful, but independent of Cézanne’s physical hand.
Understanding the Value: Why Are They Affordable?
To safely navigate this market, it helps to understand exactly what you are buying:
| Attribute | Late 19th-Century Proofs | Early 20th-Century Book/Portfolio Editions |
| Edition Size | Very limited (e.g., 10 to 50 impressions) | Larger distribution (e.g., 500 to 1,000+) |
| Signature | Hand-signed in pencil by the artist | Signed “in the stone” (printed) or unsigned |
| Paper Type | Rare papers like Japan paper or vellum | Heavy wove paper or textbook stock |
| Price Point | $10,000 – $50,000+ | $100 – $4,500+ |