Incollect Magazine - Issue 4

Incollect Magazine 109 2023 Five of Picasso’s paintings have sold for above $100 million dollars at auction, and another for $95 million, along with a dozen more above $50 million. Prices in the stratosphere restrict ownership of these works to museums and top collectors, but for anyone looking to own a Picasso there are other, more affordable options. His prints can be bought for only a few thousand dollars and in many cases are hand signed by the artist. Editioned ceramics are also affordable. Knowledge of editions and of edition sizes and signatures is important, but the market tends to be fairly transparent. There are almost 75,000 listings in the Artnet price database for Picasso’s prints and multiples, a category that includes prints of all kinds but also ceramics. Breaking the data down, there are 18,500 listings for etchings, and 18,000 listings of lithographs, the two Left: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), Femme Au Beret, 1939. Lithograph on Arches paper, 29 x 22 in. Edition of 500, 34 AP. Right: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), Femme au Tablier Rayer Vert, 1920. Lithograph on Arches paper, 27 x 18 in. Edition of 500, 34 AP. Images courtesy of Ro Gallery. main printmaking techniques Picasso employed, with prices ranging from a few thousand dollars for prints to over $8 million dollars for a rare detailed etching from 1904, “Le repas frugal,” that was sold at Christies in London, in March 2022. Robert Rogal of Ro Gallery has been dealing in Picasso’s paintings, prints, ceramics for 40 years. He has handled more than 800 works by Picasso and today has more than 200 of the artist’s works on offer online and at his New York gallery, the bulk of which are prints. He says the market is always strong. “Picasso has a worldwide market,” Rogal says, “with a worldwide client base so there is always demand. The fact of the matter is that at any time, anywhere, someone is looking to buy a Picasso artwork.” Rogal has customers in the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Austria and other