Picasso for only tens of thousands of yen? The reason for the huge price gap in his works

Pablo Picasso is a master who represents 20th-century art.

Even for those who are not familiar with painting, it is rare to find someone who has never heard the name Picasso.
Picasso, who created Cubism and left behind numerous masterpieces such as "Guernica," is an artist who significantly changed the very course of modern art.

On the other hand, when looking at Picasso's works in the art market, one might feel a bit puzzled.

"There are works you can buy for tens of thousands of yen even though they are by Picasso."
"But other works are traded for millions or tens of millions of yen."

Why is there such a difference in price even though they bear the same name, Picasso?

■ Picasso's Achievements

Pablo Picasso was a painter, sculptor, and printmaker born in Spain in 1881 who was primarily based in France.

He showed exceptional talent from a young age, and after his Blue Period and Rose Period, he pioneered Cubism together with Georges Braque.

Cubism is an expression that does not depict objects from a single viewpoint, but rather breaks them down and reconstructs them from multiple perspectives.
This attempt significantly changed the way Western painting had been viewed until then.

Even after that, Picasso developed a very wide range of expressions, including classical figure representation, surrealist works, prints, ceramics, and sculpture.

In other words, Picasso was an artist who did not stop at one style but continued to change throughout his life.
His influence is also deeply involved in the foundation of contemporary art.

■ Picasso works actually circulating in the market

When people think of Picasso, many may think of the large works in museums.

However, the Picasso-related works actually seen in the auction market or in general homes are a bit broader.

For example,

・Original prints
・Reproduction prints
・Lithographic posters
・Parts of illustrated books
・Ceramic works
・Works labeled as "After Picasso"

and so on.

This difference in "type of work" is very important when considering price gaps.

Even with the same Picasso design, how it is viewed in the market changes significantly depending on how much Picasso himself was involved in the production, whether there is a hand-signed signature, and whether the edition number or catalogue raisonné number can be verified.

■ Why are there Picassos worth tens of thousands of yen and others worth tens of millions of yen?

The price difference in Picasso's works cannot be explained by the fame of his name alone.

Works that tend to be highly valued include original prints by Picasso himself, authentic drawings, and ceramic works produced at the Madoura pottery studio.
For these works, items such as hand-signed signatures, edition numbers, catalogue raisonné numbers, pottery stamps, and certificates of authenticity are important verification materials.

On the other hand, many Picasso works found in ordinary homes are reproduction prints, lithographic posters, or pages from illustrated books.

While these are works that allow you to enjoy Picasso's designs, their market valuation differs from his original prints or hand-drawn works.
Therefore, there are cases where a work is traded at a more affordable price than expected, even though it is a Picasso.

■ Having a signature does not always mean it is expensive

A signature is something often checked on Picasso's works.

However, there are different types of signatures.
The meaning differs depending on whether it is a hand-signed signature written by the artist himself in pencil, a signature printed on the work, or a stamped signature.

Even if it looks like there is a signature, if it is a printed signature, the valuation will differ from that of a hand-signed one.

Also, for prints, the edition number, catalogue number, watermark, and the condition of the sheet and margins are important.
For ceramics, the MADOURA pottery stamp on the bottom or the EDITION PICASSO engraving are key points for verification.

Because Picasso's works are so famous, they are also works that are difficult to judge by appearance alone.

■ For those who want to know more about Picasso's works

On the Kaitori Iura blog, we explain in detail where price differences come from based on actual trading trends in the auction market for Picasso's works.

For example,

・At what price are Picasso's works traded?
・Why are there Picasso works that are inexpensive?
・What is 'After Picasso'?
・What is the difference between a hand-signed signature and a printed signature?
・Can Picasso's ceramics be appraised?
・Can I consult you even if the condition is poor?

We have summarized topics that are of concern to those who own such works.

Because Picasso's works are by a world-renowned master, verifying the type and documentation is very important.
Even if you think, 'It looks like a Picasso, but I don't know if it's truly valuable,' it is easier to organize your thoughts by starting with identifying the type of work.

If you would like to know more, please take a look at this blog.

▶ Picasso Purchase and Appraisal | Explaining why there is a price difference from tens of thousands to tens of millions of yen

■ You do not need to be committed to selling to consult with us

If you own a Picasso work, it is important to first confirm "what type of work it is."

"I want to know if it is an original print or a reproduction print."
"I don't know if the signature is hand-signed."
"It says 'After Picasso,' but I want to know if it has any value."
"There is an engraving on the bottom of the ceramic, so I want you to check it."

Consultations at that stage are also possible.

It is easier to verify if you have photos of the entire work, the signature area, the edition number, the back, the back of the frame, any documentation, or in the case of ceramics, the engraving or kiln mark on the bottom.

We do not pressure you to sell, so please feel free to consult with us with whatever information you have.

➡️ Toshikazu Iura - Expert in painting and art trading

📷 It is best to have two photos: the entire work + the signature/co-seal.

🔗 Official Website Here | You can send photos via the purchase form
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As an art dealer, I am directly involved in the trading of over 1,000 works every month.

As an expert in painting and art trading, I would be happy to be of service to you.

Please feel free to consult with us about any other paintings or art objects as well.

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