In today’s art world, it is easy to assume that the measure of a serious collector lies in the acquisition of a seven-figure painting at auction. Headlines focus on record-breaking prices for canvases and sculptures, while prints are often left out of the conversation. Yet step into any leading private collection or museum, and you will find prints at its core. From Picasso’s etchings and Matisse’s aquatints to Banksy’s screenprints and Hockney’s iPad works, editions remain essential to the story of art – and to the ambitions of serious collectors.
At Andipa Editions, we have witnessed first-hand how prints continue to captivate seasoned connoisseurs and new buyers alike. But what makes prints so enduringly collectable? Why do collectors who can afford paintings and sculptures continue to pursue editions with such passion?
Prints Carry Prestige
Prints are not reproductions or afterthoughts; they are central to many artists’ practices. Warhol’s Marilyns, Lichtenstein’s comic book series, and Chagall’s lyrical lithographs were never meant as substitutes for paintings – they were deliberate, pioneering works. Hockney’s embrace of the iPad as a drawing tool, translated into signed editions, shows the same spirit of experimentation and authenticity. When collectors acquire a signed, limited edition print, they are investing in a piece that carries the full weight of an artist’s vision and legacy. Far from being “secondary,” these works often become the very images that define an artist’s cultural impact.
Rarity Creates Value
The idea that prints are “mass produced” is a common misconception. In reality, fine art editions are defined by their strict limits: 25, 50, or perhaps 150 impressions, each carefully signed and numbered by the artist. Once complete, the plates or screens are typically destroyed, ensuring no further copies can be made. This scarcity is precisely what makes editions so desirable. Banksy’s early prints such as Girl with Balloon or Love is in the Air have become cornerstones of contemporary collecting, fetching significant sums at auction and finding homes in top collections. The rarity of these works – combined with Banksy’s cultural influence – has propelled them to the same level of demand as many unique works.
Another reason collectors love prints is the opportunity they provide. Prints make it possible to acquire an important work by a leading artist at a more accessible price point. That accessibility does not mean compromise. Instead, it allows collectors to live with pieces that are both historically significant and financially sound. For younger collectors, prints often represent the first step into serious collecting – a Banksy or Haring print may lead to a lifelong engagement with art. For established collectors, editions can be a way of deepening a relationship with an artist’s work without requiring the space or capital of another large painting.
Historically, printmaking has always been a space for experimentation. Picasso produced more than 2,000 prints across his career, using the medium to explore ideas and techniques that fed directly into his painting. Warhol embraced screenprinting precisely because it reflected the mass-produced imagery of his age. Today, artists like David Hockney continue that tradition. His iPad drawings, printed and editioned, have been exhibited at major institutions and embraced by collectors worldwide. Editions often reveal the most adventurous side of an artist’s practice – a space where they test, play, and innovate. Serious collectors recognise that these works are not just multiples, but moments of breakthrough.
Building a Collection
Perhaps the greatest appeal of prints is the way they encourage breadth and connection. Prints allow collectors to build a more comprehensive story: to own a Warhol, a Riley, a Chagall, and a Banksy, and to see the dialogue across generations and movements. For many collectors, editions form the foundation of a collection that eventually expands into paintings, drawings, and sculptures. For others, prints remain the focus – a complete Hockney print series or a carefully curated selection of Banksy’s most iconic images can be as powerful as any private gallery of paintings. At Andipa, we often see collections that begin with a single print grow into extraordinary archives, reflecting not just taste but also the history of modern and contemporary art itself.
At Andipa Editions, we take pride in presenting collectors with carefully chosen works that exemplify the power of prints. Our selection includes seminal works by Banksy, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, Keith Haring, Bridget Riley, Damien Hirst, Roy Lichtenstein, and many more. Our role is not simply to sell prints but to guide collectors with care, knowledge, and over fifty years of expertise. In a world where the art market can feel opaque, we remain true to our ethos: a family-driven approach built on trust, discretion, and a genuine love of art.
Serious collectors continue to love prints because they embody everything that makes art meaningful: authenticity, rarity, innovation, and connection. Editions offer the chance to engage with great artists on a personal level, to build collections that tell stories across movements, and to invest in works that will remain significant for generations. At Andipa Editions, we believe prints are not secondary but central – not compromises, but opportunities. For us, and for the collectors we serve, prints remain one of the most vital and rewarding areas of art collecting today.
