how can you tell if a sketch is an original or a reproduction?

Question

My father in law found a sketch at a thrift store. It's signed by Raphael Soyer and has a piece of paper on the back of the frame that says APF INC. Framemakers and Conservators along with their address. It's on pretty thick and good quality paper. There are no other markings on it indicating that it was in a print series. I really can't find any information about how to tell the difference between an original sketch and a reproduction. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

If you look close with a magnifying glass and see dots that make up the image it will be a print. Old prints ( offset lithography ) are made up a dots of ink. Continuous tones as with a pencil can only be printed, in those days, by photographing the original with a screen that broke it up into these little dots. The negative was then used to expose a printing plate which was then used on the printing press to print the image. The closer the dots were together the darker the area was and the further apart the lighter the area. The press has only one color on it at a time. All the dots will be the same color per run through the press. Color prints are made by running the paper through the press four or more times to simulate actual color. Cyan, magenta yellow and black are offset and printed over each other fooling the eye by using proximity to blend the colors. Yellow next to and overlapping cyan gives you the greens and so on.



Art prints can be on the same papers as original work.



You should take it to a good local framer or antique dealer as they can verify its originality.

Answer 2

You would need to have it appraised and authenticated by an expert if you want to find out. They would be able to tell the difference.

Answer 3

if its got this nice like texture to the canvas- real

if its smoot it wont be

smae for painnted pix 2! XD