Post #548426 by Grand Kahu on Sat, Aug 14, 2010 12:13 PM

Actually, the phrase "authentic copy" gave me a good laugh. Right up there with "genuine reproduction" in the land of confusion. Artists often create editions of a print, which are typically numbered as such -- "2/10" for two of ten prints, artist proof (AP), etc. They may also create a series of variant works in an edition, related by subject. Think of impressionist paintings the same subject produced at different times of the day, etc.

A copy, "authentic" or not, is just that - a copy made by another's hand rather than that of the original artist. And unless it is an "authorized" copy/edition, it suggests it may have been made without the artist's permission. Authorized copies, whether limited in number or unlimited in mass-production, are common in any medium.

I can only imagine the word "authentic" here is being (mis-)used where one would expect the word "authorized" to appear, suggesting the artist gave formal permission for others to print, paint, or otherwise fabricate copies of the original work.

GK