Find Out What a Lithograph Is Worth
A lithograph is a work of art created by drawing on the surface of a stone with a special waxy crayon or pencil, rolling ink across the hard surface and pressing the stone against paper. Artists can make lithographs in black and white or add color to the print. Determining the value of a lithograph can be difficult given the arbitrary nature of the art world. Rely on three types of information to determine the value of a lithograph.
Instructions
1. Ask at the gallery where you bought the lithograph. Gallery owners who specialize in a particular artist's work can be especially helpful in tracking the artist's reputation and the long-term value of her work. Check art trade publications or professional gallery associations to locate other galleries who sell that artist's work -- getting multiple opinions on the value of your lithograph will help you get a sharper picture of its true worth.
2. Ask an appraiser. Note that some appraisers will charge a fee for valuation services and conducting the research necessary to evaluate your artwork.
3. Research the artist. An artist's reputation and achievements affect the value of his work, so keeping up to date on that information will help you assess the value of his work. Check art trade magazines and find recent sale prices to determine if the prices of his lithographs are rising or falling. Any media attention the artist has received in the past several years will also affect the value of his lithographs. Talk to gallery owners who deal in his works -- find out if lithographs similar to yours are selling briskly or if there is dwindling interest in his work. The information you gather from this research process will help you determine the value of your lithograph.
