American Dream by Luis Jimenez
A rare opportunity to witness two color lithographs printed at a professional atelier, side by side, decades after they were printed.
Topmost print was framed before UV blocking glass was available. The bottom print was put away in a drawer, shielded from exposure to ultra violet light.
When exposed to ultra violet light, colors can lighten and/ or shift, representing damage to the artwork’s value, as the new appearance varies from the artist’s original intent.
How much value lost? A significant amount because this character of damage cannot be remedied, no matter how talented the conservator. In some cases colors change, but embrittlement to the paper also occurs, which also cannot be effectively corrected.
Think twice when your framer poses the question with respect to any water-based medium on paper such as inks or watercolor: “Do you want to use UV blocking glazing (either glass or plexiglas)?” Reflect on this opportunity to see the consequence of the wrong choice. As American Dream was created in 1972, it is likely the top version was framed and exposed to UV for approximately 30 years.
Frame it right the first time, so “the appraiser” doesn’t have to remind you later that the choice you made wasn’t a savvy choice.
Corinne Cain “the appraiser” of www.SavvyCollector.com