Print Week in New York is in full swing, with both the 34th iteration of the International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) Fair and the inaugural Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair open to the public through the weekend. The shows draw a mixture of seasoned collectors and newfound enthusiasts, as the medium is often seen as an accessible “gateway” for acquiring art due to its lower price point.

“Not to say that [prints] are cheap, but they’re certainly much more affordable than a unique work of art,” explained Madeleine Viljoen, curator of prints at the New York Public Library (NYPL). “People who can’t afford to have a painting by Kara Walker may be able to purchase a print by her.”

So what should a first-time buyer keep an eye out for at the fairs this week?

“I always suggest that collectors look for prints that are an extension of an artist’s practice, rather than a reproduction of it,” said Elleree Erdos, director of prints and editions at David Zwirner. “The strongest prints are identifiable as the work of the artist who made them, while also leaning into the strengths and possibilities of the medium.”

“The medium is also seen by artists as a way to experiment and introduce new ideas and concepts into their practice,” Erdos continued, adding that print projects frequently give artists “a fresh outlook on ideas of seriality, reversal, and the effects of pressure or compression on an image.”

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