Michael de Bruges

On the support in painting

In easel painting as well as in mural painting, the support is of great importance for the final appearance of the work of art. The traditional materials used for the support did but slowly evolve. The wood panel, traditionally square, was either hewn ... Read >

The shortcomings of on-line auctions – art market insight

Since quite some time already, Internet auctions have become commonplace and art in all its forms is effectively sold in the on-line environment. However, the virtual market place is clearly second-rate in features that bring pleasure and thrill to the sa... Read >

The Painter and His Painting – On Constraints In the Creative Act

Most easel paintings in history have been executed on right-angled surfaces whose proportional ratio approximate the golden number, universally considered harmonious. While the theoretical range goes from perfect squares to ample parallelograms, the rect... Read >

The Frame Makes the Painting - the Importance of Setting For Artwork

As proven in the modern art movement, any object can pretend to art if set within a clever framework. To give attention to the setting is important as the latter governs the way we appreciate and understand art. Paintings have been framed ever since th... Read >

European Painting – The end of a regional distinction

Europe has always been known for its cultural diversity, for being an entity forged by history and geography into a multiethnic and disparate whole, displaying a characteristic plural identity against a common backdrop. Hence, the vast diversity that the ... Read >

What’s the Signature’s Worth? - Art and Investment

The signature has particular importance in art. To sign a work of art means literally apposing ones name on its material appearance, traditionally this is done in handwriting and in accordance with a model grown more or less permanent and unique to each i... Read >

What is art? - The eternal controversy

Since the sixties, the idea of what art is, or should be, has been endlessly debated. After having exhausted the possibilities of traditional forms, modernism ceased to attract newcomers and new attempts to create art took controversial forms. The notion ... Read >

Can you trust images of art on the Web? - Buying art on the Internet

In comparison with shopping for branded consumer products, buying original items on the Internet makes you exceptionally vulnerable to deception. The unique item has no comparison and you are forced to base your judgement on what you see and read on-line.... Read >

The secondary art market - a useful notion for the art investor

As there are secondary markets in the trade of goods, there is a secondary market in the trade of art. The great difference is that art doesn't depreciate with age, even if subject to wear, and that prices on the secondary art market aren't determined by ... Read >

Buying art online - how to avoid common pitfalls

More and more people are getting comfortable about buying art online. In the early days of the Internet, potential art buyers were hesitant, fearing fraud and worrying about transaction safety. Moreover, images and descriptions were often too wanting in q... Read >