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Problem: I have photographed original paintings by a family member and decided to print and frame a few of the photographs. The prints are the same size as the original artwork, so 24" x 30" or 11" x 14", for example. I'm not sure how to label them on the back of the frame so it's clear that it's a print of a photograph of the artwork and not the artwork itself.

Question: How do I format a label for such a framed print of a photograph of a painting?

Attempt:

Title
Dimensions of original artwork (which is the same as the dimensions of the print)
Medium of the original artwork (e.g., acrylic on canvas)
Artist

But the above does not make clear that this is only a print.

2 Answers 2

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Since this is a reproduction it should not be labelled in the manner of an original work of art. A more appropriate label would be:

Reproduction of "Name of Original by Artist's Name, Date of Original, Original Medium"

You could use the method of reproduction in place of the word and citing the original medium is very optional. The title should be underlined (unable to figure how to format that here). You do not want to confuse the viewer into thinking that the work at hand is in anyway an original piece.

Of course, even as a family member, if you are not the original artist (ie copyright owner) you will need to have that person or their estate's permission to publicly display or sell the prints.

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  • No inclusion of the dimensions or mention of the printer, photographer, or framer? Commented Mar 24 at 19:34
  • Yes, the original size could be cited. But being a photo reproduction means it does not have any caché or status as a work of art beyond being a reference. The person making the repro print is not part of the work unless you are Richard Prince.
    – rebusB
    Commented Mar 24 at 19:38
  • "It should not be labelled in the manner of an original work of art": why?
    – Joachim
    Commented Mar 24 at 21:12
  • @Joachim - because it is not an original work of art. It is more like a reproduction in a book only presented in a different context.
    – rebusB
    Commented Mar 25 at 12:53
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    The italics were to show the words that were variable, not necessarily italicized when it has the actual title, artist name, etc. Underline and/or italicize so the title stands out, the rest is at your discretion. Like @Joachim points out there is no actual standard, just convention.
    – rebusB
    Commented Mar 27 at 16:18
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This could be a cultural or local difference, but I'm personally more familiar with the artist name coming first, wherever it involves promotional or commercial material (i.e. in western/northern Europe, but prevalent in the US as well, I believe).

As for your question, I would simply state that the item is a reproduction, and what medium is used to produce it:

format example
artist name Kazimir Severinovich Malewitsch
title Female Torso
original dimensions (height x width) 52 x 73 cm
medium oil on canvas
This is a photographic reproduction (medium) This is a photographic reproduction (giclée print on canvas)
  • You can add the artist's year of birth (and year of death if deceased) between parentheses after the artist's name.
  • You can add the year of production after the title (e.g. 'Female Torso, 1928/32') or between title and dimensions.
  • It's also customary to indicate the type of edition (open or limited), and the number, in case of the limited, numbered edition. Buyers will want to know how unique their print is. This is usually added manually (and by the artist, who usually provides a signature, as well) when the prints are checked, which gives it an even more appealing look.
  • In your case there is no difference, but I pointed out that the dimensions noted on the back (or elsewhere) are of the original, for clarity's sake.
  • You can alternatively opt for 'Medium (this is a photographic reproduction)' or 'Medium. This is a photographic reproduction.', depending on what you find important and want to emphasize.
    Once people notice the medium that is mentioned first is different from the medium of the item they are holding, they will usually realize that it's a reproduction, but this might not be as straightforward to people not familiar with either.
  • As a final note: there are standards, but no regulations: ultimately you can choose what you prefer based on your own wishes and experience.
    The best thing to do, of course, is to let the artist decide, if possible, and discuss options that let the their (artistic) intentions come to the fore, but will also take into account the commercial viability.
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  • The label then would be just the entries in the Example column? Or would it be both the Format and Example column like 'Artist Name: Kazimir Severinovich Malewitsch', 'Title: Female Torso', and so on like a fill-in-the-blank. Commented Mar 24 at 14:01
  • Is it customary to credit the framer or the photographer? The "photographer" was just me, so no one special, but I thought I'd ask. Commented Mar 24 at 14:03
  • This still looks too much like the title card for an original work. The fact that it is a reproduction has to be emphasized.
    – rebusB
    Commented Mar 24 at 19:26
  • @UngarLinski: no, I think that can be deduced from the information, as well as this quite standard sequence of data. Crediting the photographer and editor is a possibility, but not customary, because it's not an artistic endeavour (rather, you'd want it to look as much as the original as possible).
    – Joachim
    Commented Mar 24 at 21:05
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    @Joachim Because the clarification that it is not the original work is stated last it will be more easily overlooked. In a way it would be burying its true nature in the small print. A casual observer may believe they are looking at the original which could be exploited by the unscrupulous. As far as editions go, this should only be done by the original artist or their inheritors, again for the same reason that someone could essentially steal the work from its creator.
    – rebusB
    Commented Mar 25 at 12:47

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