Numbered prints are created as part of a limited edition series, where each individual piece is clearly identified within the total production run. This process focuses on the marking of the print rather than the specific printing technique used to produce the image itself (which can vary widely).
Understanding Numbered Prints
According to information provided, to have a numbered piece of art signifies that the artist or printer performs a specific action on the print:
- Indication: They mark the art piece directly.
- Labeling: This mark shows that the piece is the X numbered print out of a total of YY prints created for that particular edition.
- Purpose: This marking is what designates the print as being part of a limited edition.
Essentially, the "making" of a print into a numbered print involves this crucial step of authenticating and documenting its position within a predetermined, finite edition size. This stands in contrast to unlimited or open editions, where no such sequence or total count is indicated.
Significance of the Numbering Process
The act of numbering prints is important because:
- It establishes the print as belonging to a limited edition.
- It provides collectors with information about the rarity of the specific print and the entire edition size.
- It is a key part of the print's provenance and authenticity, often accompanied by the artist's signature.
Therefore, while the physical creation of the print involves various artistic and printing techniques, the defining characteristic of a numbered print lies in the deliberate act of the artist or printer marking each piece with its unique number within the total edition size.
