Artwork Classifications

Want to know the difference in art terms related to a painting. Johnson Wildman Gallery of Contemporary Art will provide answers and knowledge. Unique. Limited Editions. Open Editions etc.

Unique

One-of-a-kind piece.

Limited edition

The edition run has ended; the number of works produced is known and included in the listing.

Open edition

The edition run is ongoing. New works are still being produced, which may be numbered. This includes made-to-order works.

Unknown edition

The edition run has ended; it is unclear how many works were produced.

Editions

FAQ's Limited Editions

When you see a work you like and want to purchase a print or photograph logically, the next step is to look at the artwork’s edition information. To distinguish between each individual artwork in an edition, artists label each piece with a distinct number. The size of an edition can range considerably depending on the physical limitations of the artist’s technique as well as collector demand for the artist’s work. For example, etchings made with printmaking techniques such as drypoint or aquatint typically come in small editions, due to the fragility of the printmaking process. On the other hand, durable methods like screen printing, lithography, and cast metal sculpture enable artists like Cheryl Johnson and Jim Wildman to produce unusual and eclectic art.

Proofs Add to the Edition Size

Most limited editions will also include a small number of artist’s proofs, which are often listed as “AP” or “A/P” in the edition information. Other types of proofs—such as RTP or BAT proofs (customarily the printer’s guide for producing the edition) or printer’s proofs (given to the second master printer working on an edition)—are less common.