I was interested recently when an artist and critic priced a painting by an unknown artist at £2000. The painting was a late work. While in an auction eight years ago a painting by the same artist when he was a young man was priced at most at £250. The former was pricing the work and the skill, the latter the fame. It was up to the buyer to gauge whether or not they were buying a work that was worth a lot more or whether the artist was really second tier.
but then auctions are for making money, not describing art. The monetising or art and the marketing that goes on around auctions bears no resemblance to the philosophy, work ethic, life or achievements of an artist. It is about investment. Even when institutions by they are investing in the grant making bodies that support them. This marketing of art is the main reason so many artists need ‘rescuing’ after they are dead.
#invaluable