impressions were used as exhibition copies, so that the works being sold were not over-handled or damaged. stands for hors commerce, or “not to sell.” Similar to an artist’s proof, this proof was set aside from the editioned prints.
stands for “ épreuve d’artiste,” meaning Artist’s Proof in French. This tradition is something that continues into modern day printmaking, though there is no longer such a rigid system of patronage.Ī closeup of an 'E.A' marking on a print.Į.A. What does 'Artist Proof' mean? A portion of the edition was then set aside for the artist and left unnumbered for them to do with it what they wanted. This annotation stems from the past when artists would be hired by patrons to complete a project. In addition to these markings, you might also see the following abbreviations:Ī.P. In general, prints are signed and numbered with their edition. What is an Artist Proof? Prints often have annotations in the margins, and you might be wondering what they mean.
