Keate
Prints
Limited-edition prints aren't knockoffs―they're original works, of which only a finite number are produced.
artoftheprint.com
Site founded: 2000 (gallery opened in
1986).
The art: This Canadian site spans genres from maps
to botanical drawings to satire to circus art. More than 3,000
works are listed, with multiple pieces by single artists―good if
you're shopping for pairs or groupings.
Price range: $50 to $9,000 (most between $200 and
$1,000).
Return policy: Seven days.
The site: Search by period, medium, country,
genre, or printmaking technique (aquatint, mezzotint, etc.).
Unfortunately, for a site so large, there's no search-by-price
option. Orders must be placed by phone or e-mail.
wolman-prints.com
Site founded: 1997.
The art: Longtime London dealer Allan Wolman sells
a consistently tasteful selection of limited-edition prints by
several hundred artists, from lesser-known names to Kandinsky,
Dufy, and Magritte.
Price range: $100 to $25,000 (most between $500
and $5,000).
Return policy: It's a bit vague―"within a
reasonable period of about a week." Be sure to discuss up
front any intention to "just try it out" against your
periwinkle walls.
The site: Search by artist or new acquisitions.
Orders must be placed by e-mail. The good news: Wolman himself will
answer your questions practically as fast as you can hit
"send."
paceprints.com
Site founded: 1998 (gallery opened in
1967).
The art: Devoted modernists only. The established
artists on this site―the Web arm of the prestigious New York City
gallery of the same name―include Jean Dubuffet, Saul Steinberg, and
Helen Frankenthaler. Many sell exclusively through Pace.
Price range: $1,000 to $35,000 or more.
Return policy: Seven days.
The site: It's simple to use and very
informative, with artist biographies and a six-part tutorial on
understanding and collecting the medium (click on "Print
Shop").
Shown: Elevator II, by William Steiger, 21 1/2 by 18 1/4 inches, $1,000, from Pace Prints. Unfortunately, this item is no longer available.
From Real Simple: Eye-Catching House Numbers
Keate
Because of the wide range of colors and textures in paintings, the risk that what you see on-screen will differ subtly from what you eventually hold in your hands is greater than it is with prints or photos. But considering the risk-reward ratio, these sites are still a bet worth making.
picassomio.com
Site founded: 1999 (gallery opened in
2003).
The art: The quality on this site―which links
thousands of international dealers, galleries, and artists of all
styles and levels of renown―is wildly uneven. But if you're
patient, you'll find many striking works.
Price range: $50 and way, way up (to
$100,000).
Return policy: Seven days.
The site: The sheer volume and variety are either
a delight or a headache. Two brilliant features: “View to Scale”
lets you see the work on a wall in a room; “Select Wall Color”
shows it against the hue of the wall in your home for which it is
destined (or not).
hangart.com
Site founded: 1998 (gallery opened in the same
year).
The art: This San Francisco gallery's site
features Bay Area artists.
Price range: $200 to $12,000 (most are under
$3,000).
Return policy: 30 days.
The site: It offers search options by artist,
subject, size, and color, and a handy "If you like this
artist, you may also like…" feature. You can rent works and
apply up to half the fee to the purchase price.
novica.com
Site founded: 1998.
The art: This site, part-owned by the National
Geographic Society, has a vast inventory by artists from far-flung
locales, including Brazil, India, and West Africa. Works range from
exquisite religious art to contemporary canvases, plus sculptures,
jewelry, and textiles.
Price range: $50 to $6,000 (including more than
400 paintings for less than $200).
Return policy: 60 days.
The site: You can search by country or region,
then medium (paintings, sculptures, etc.), or by style, subject, or
price.
Shown: Komut, by Nitaya Tamwong, 11 13/16 by 15 3/4 inches, $189, from Novica. Unfortunately, this item is no longer available.
See Timeless Home Accessories at Real Simple.
Keate
Part of photography's appeal is how it can combine history and journalism with aesthetics. Photographs also tend to be somewhat less pricey to collect than paintings or prints.
aperture.org
Site founded: 1997 (online gallery opened in
2003).
The art: Aperture is the granddaddy of
art-photography magazines, founded in 1952 by Ansel Adams and other
giants of the genre. Its website has prints by the old greats, such
as Paul Strand and Edward Weston, and contemporary superstars, like
Annie Leibovitz and Sebastiao Salgado.
Price range: $350 to more than $3,500 (most are
well under $2,000).
Return policy: Seven days.
The site: Search by photographer's name,
title, or category.
photoeye.com
Site founded: 1996 (gallery opened in 1991 in
Santa Fe; originally in 1979 in Austin, Texas).
The art: Mostly black-and-white works from the
gallery, as well as some pieces signed by photojournalists from the
famous Magnum studio.
Price range: $200 to $4,000.
Return policy: 10 days.
The site: Search the virtual gallery by name,
genre, camera format, print process, or keyword. Two potential
annoyances: You'll have to e-mail the gallery for some prices,
and Photo Eye special-orders certain items, possibly tacking
several days onto the delivery time.
eyestorm.com
Site founded: 1999.
The art: This British site's huge selection
spans arty abstractions, nudes, celebrity portraits, and celebrity
photographers.
Price range: $700 to more than $86,000.
Return policy: 28 days.
The site: It moves quickly, with many images on
each page. If you don’t like a price, select "Make Us an
Offer" and try your luck.
Shown: Bastienne's Eye, by Ralph Gibson, 6 by 9 inches (unframed), $1,120, from Eyestorm. Unfortunately, this item is no longer available.
More from Real Simple:
Decorating How-Tos
Make the Most of Small Spaces
Decorate on the Cheap With Everyday Items
