Framed Museum Prints Every Art Collector Should Own

Not everyone has the means or the money to buy expensive pieces of fine art. However, that doesn't mean that there's no opportunity for art lovers and enthusiasts to own one of their favorite pieces of art. That's one of the reasons why art prints exist.

What's the Point of Art Prints?

Framed museum prints and posters are a more affordable way to own reproductions of fine art. Not everyone can own an original piece of art. Even if they could, there is often only one original. The rest would be replicas and reproductions.

Prints are a way to democratize art and spread beauty, culture, and history to more people. Framed museum prints are a good way for museums, galleries, and foundations to further support their work and their advocacy.

As for the artists and photographers, selling art prints is also a way for them to support their craft and gain a wider reach. Art materials can be expensive, after all, especially if the artist employs traditional methods and mediums.

Do People Really Buy Art Prints?

The short answer to this question is: "Yes, people really do buy art prints"

Art prints, for one thing, are a great way to add that artistic and creative touch to any space, whether commercial or residential. They can be good focal points and finishing touches to a space's interior design. Offices, restaurants, and bars would greatly improve their atmosphere and aesthetic with a few pieces of art. And framed museum art prints are a great way for these establishments to give their customers more access to amazing art pieces.

Some artists also decided to release only a limited number of prints of their art. These limited edition prints can increase in value as the artist's value and popularity rises as well, making them equally valuable pieces of art. Limited edition prints are also sometimes signed by the artists, which further increases their value.

So if you're one who's always wanted to collect art, art prints are definitely one way that you could start. That said, we have a few pieces that we highly recommend you add to your collection.

1. Hokusai's The Great Wave

Hokusai was a Japanese artist during the Edo period. The “Great Wave” is one of his most popular works, and is one of the pieces that made him earn immediate success first in Japan, and then later, in Europe.

In the backdrop of the huge wave is Mount Fuji, and the painting itself is a statement that speaks a lot about the changes that were happening in Japan due to the presence of many incoming foreign influences. The rough seas represent the feeling of fear and uncertainty during the period amid the stillness of Mount Fuji, which is its symbol for the soul of Japan.

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa is one of the most famous pieces of art in Japanese history, and has made a huge impact in art throughout the world, inspiring even the Impressionists like Van Gogh and Monet.

2. Van Gogh's Ravine

Ravine is a part of the large series of paintings that Van Gogh produced shortly after declaring himself an artist. A part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Ravine is not as eye-catching as Starry Night at first glance, but draws its power from its cool tones and subdued impressions.

Van Gogh did this purposefully, using short brushstrokes and many areas in the canvas unpainted. Part of his goal was to impart the beautiful melancholic atmosphere by demonstrating a suppressed passion.

3. Monet's Flower Beds at Vetheuil

Another French painter in the 1800s to 1900s, Claude Monet, was also a part of the Impressionist movement. He believed, as most of the Impressionists do, in painting nature as he perceived it. The Flower Beds at Vetheuil came to fruition during his stay in the town of Vetheuil in 1878.

4. Hassam's At Dusk (Boston Common at Twilight)

One American artist that was heavily inspired and influenced by the French Impressionists was Childe Hassam. And it's in this very evocative and memorable work, At Dusk (Boston Common At Twilight), that Hassam displays his mastery at painting urban scenes. Childe Hassam was also lacking in formal art training. However, he vigorously studied French art among the Boston collections as a way to make up for it. What resulted was the fact that his paintings today often sit alongside some of the great works from the past.

5. Turner's A Garden Is a Sea of Flowers

Ross Sterling Turner is another American artist that has works in both the realist and Impressionist styles. He's best-known for his watercolor paintings depicting landscapes and marine life, as well as his still lifes. His style, strokes, and colors are similar to Hassam's. Though this comes as no surprise as the two were friends and painting companions. As A Garden Is a Sea of Flowers shows his mastery of depicting landscapes in watercolor, making his work very much worth adding to your collection.

Add Framed Museum Prints to Your Art Collection

Art, in all its various forms and mediums, has always been a great investment. Whether you collect art because you want to support an artist, build prestige, preserve history, or simply to admire their beauty in the comfort of your own home, art prints remain a worthwhile investment.

We at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston recognize the value in art and spreading its influence and legacy in various ways. After all, the love and appreciation of art is something uniquely human. So if you're looking to collect framed museum prints to display in your home or office, feel free to browse through the rest of our selection of prints here on our website.