What is an Artist Proof?
An artist proof traditionally refers to a print impression taken during the printing process to evaluate the current state of the artwork as the artist works on the plate. These proofs often show incomplete images and are sometimes called trial impressions or working proofs. However, in modern practice, an artist proof typically refers to an impression of the finished work that is identical to the numbered edition copies but is set aside for the artist's personal use. Artist proofs are usually marked A.P. and may be considered more valuable by collectors due to their limited availability.
From working proof to A.P.
The artist proof began as a purely practical object. Before an edition existed at all, the printmaker would pull impressions from the plate, stone or screen to judge how the work was progressing — checking the depth of an etched line, the density of an ink, the registration of a colour. These working or trial proofs often show the image in an unfinished state, and in the case of artists like Rembrandt, whose plates went through numerous documented states, they have become prized records of a work's evolution.
The modern artist proof is a different creature. Once limited, signed editions became standard practice in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, publishers and artists formalised the habit of setting aside a small group of impressions outside the numbered run. These proofs are printed at the same time, on the same paper, from the same matrix as the edition — visually identical, but reserved for the artist's own use, whether as personal archive, gifts, or stock to sell directly.
Reading the margins
The pencil notations in a print's lower margin tell you exactly what you are holding. "A.P." is the standard English mark for an artist proof; in continental practice you will more often see "E.A." for épreuve d'artiste. Artist proofs are frequently numbered within their own group — "A.P. 3/10" or in Roman numerals such as "E.A. II/X" — separate from the Arabic numbering of the main edition.
Related marks are worth knowing. "P.P." designates a printer's proof, retained by the master printer; "B.A.T." (bon à tirer, "good to pull") is the single approved proof against which the whole edition is matched; "H.C." (hors commerce) marks impressions not intended for sale; "T.P." indicates a trial proof. By long-standing convention, artist proofs typically amount to roughly ten percent of the edition size, though practice varies by artist and publisher. A reputable publisher will state the full breakdown — edition, proofs and all — in the print's documentation, and serious catalogues raisonnés record these numbers impression by impression.
Why collectors pay attention
Artist proofs carry a particular appeal. They are scarcer than the numbered edition, and because they were reserved for the artist, proofs that surface from an artist's estate or studio can carry an intimate provenance that numbered impressions rarely match. With intaglio techniques such as drypoint, where the delicate burr on the plate wears down as printing progresses, early impressions — proofs among them — can also be genuinely richer and more velvety than late ones. For screenprints, lithographs and modern digital editions, however, an A.P. is materially identical to its numbered siblings, and any premium rests on scarcity and sentiment rather than quality.
Prints have long rewarded the artists who committed to them, as one of the medium's founding masters ruefully observed of his own career:
“I shall stick to my engraving, and had I done so before I should today have been a richer man by 1,000 florins.”
Albrecht Dürer, letter to Jacob Heller, 1509
What to check before you buy
First, establish the true size of the print run. An edition of 50 with 30 assorted proofs is really an edition of 80, and the market prices accordingly. Consult the catalogue raisonné or the publisher's documentation for the full breakdown of numbered impressions, artist proofs, printer's proofs and hors commerce copies. Be wary of editions where the proof categories have been allowed to swell — it dilutes exactly the scarcity you are paying for.
Second, insist on the same standards you would apply to any print: a genuine signature and correct notation in pencil, paper and dimensions matching the documented edition, good condition free of light-staining, foxing or trimmed margins, and a clear chain of provenance. A certificate or publisher's record naming the impression is valuable support. Finally, keep the premium in perspective: artist proofs of sought-after prints often command somewhat more than numbered copies, but the letters "A.P." alone do not transform an ordinary print into a rarity. Buy the image, the condition and the documentation first — the proof status is the pleasant extra.
Related Terms
Attribute can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to an object, symbol, or animal commonly associated with a specific person, often used in art to identify figures, such as a lion with St. Mark. As a verb, it means to assign a work of art to a particular artist, usually based on stylistic analysis or other evidence, such as attributing a painting to an artist based on its technique and composition.
Authenticity refers to the qualities that define an original artwork as genuine, created by the artist under the original circumstances. A reproduction lacks authenticity because it was not made by the original artist and does not share the same context or creation process. The authenticity of an original artwork can be questioned when reproductions exist, which can diminish its value. Authenticity is often established through provenance, expert analysis, and documentation, ensuring the artwork's originality.
A Biennial is an art exhibition held every two years, typically on a large scale with international participants. The first and most famous example is the Venice Biennale, established in 1895 and held in the Giardini, a public park in Venice. Over time, the event has grown to include thirty permanent pavilions, each representing different countries. Biennials have become significant events in the contemporary art world, offering a platform for artists to showcase their work to a global audience.
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