What makes an original? – Conversations above the rooftops of Berlin

“THE CRUX WITH THE ORIGINAL – ON THE GRAY AREAS OF THE ART BUSINESS FROM EDGAR DEGAS TO SIGMAR POLKE”

The term original, which is always used to refer to the authenticity of an object, has developed over the centuries into a prominent category of quality and value. But the term is not easy to define, as there is a large gray area in both the legal system and the art world, requiring individual evaluation depending on the case. Based on five questions, Hubertus Butin presented and discussed art historical, legal and art trade aspects of the original:

Does a work of art have to be executed by the artist’s own hand to be considered an original?

Why can works that were executed by the artist’s own hand sometimes still not be accorded unrestricted original status?

Is a posthumous bronze casting an original?

Why are pictorial reproductions sometimes traded as originals, and when is this justified and when is it not?

Can an artist declare a forgery to be an original?

Due to the problem with the original, legislation and jurisprudence as well as the entire art world are constantly challenged to review their own claims and standards – a complex task, which the guests of the SALON SCHMITZ faced in an inspired exchange.

Interesting conversations and lively discussions resulted from Hubertus Butin’s presentation.