An artist's proof is, at least in theory, an impression of a print taken in the printmaking process to see the current printing state of a plate while the plate (or stone, or woodblock...) is being worked on by the artist. A proof may show a clearly incomplete image, often called a working proof or trial impression, but in modern practice is usually used to describe an impression of the finished work that is identical to the numbered copies. There can also be printer's proofs which are taken for the printer to see how the image is printing, or are final impressions the printer is allowed to keep; but normally the term "artist's proof" would cover both cases.
Artist's proofs are not included in the count of a limited edition, and sometimes the number of artist's proofs, which belong to the artist, can be surprisingly high at twenty or more. By convention, the artist is not supposed to sell these at once.
Read more about Artist's Proof: History, Treated Differently From Main Edition, Proofs For Printshop Technicians
Famous quotes containing the words artist and/or proof:
“The arts are not just instantaneous pleasure—if you don’t like it, the artist is wrong. I belong to the generation which says if you don’t like it, you don’t understand and you ought to find out.”
—John Drummond (b. 1934)
“a meek humble Man of modest sense,
Who preaching peace does practice continence;
Whose pious life’s a proof he does believe,
Mysterious truths, which no Man can conceive.”
—John Wilmot, 2d Earl Of Rochester (1647–1680)