Key terms for artists using Inquire.
A monoprint is a unique print — one impression, no edition. How it differs from a monotype, why each one is a singular work, and how to document them.
A lithograph is a print made from a flat stone or plate using oil and water. What makes it original, what makes it a reproduction, and how to tell.
An etching is a fine-art print made by biting an image into a metal plate with acid. How states, plate wear, and edition position shape the work.
A collection is the aggregation of artworks held by a private, corporate, or institutional owner. What it means in your CV, your provenance, and your work.
A catalogue raisonné is a scholarly record of an artist's complete work. What it is, who produces it, and what it depends on from the studio.
A bill of sale is the document that transfers title to an artwork from artist to buyer. What it contains, what it doesn't, and what it's for.
A solo exhibition is a show dedicated to one artist's work. What different solo formats actually mean, and what the show is meant to do.
A screenprint is a fine-art print made by pushing ink through a stenciled mesh screen. How the technique works, what an edition implies, and what to verify.
An open edition is an artwork with no set ceiling on the number of impressions produced. Why it exists, when it makes sense, and what to disclose.
Gallery representation is a working partnership between artist and gallery, with explicit terms. What it covers, what it costs, and what counts as the real thing.
Authentication is the process of verifying a work is genuinely by the artist it's attributed to. What it means for living artists, and what it means for your archive.
An artwork record is the studio's authoritative file on a single work. What it contains, when to build it, and how it carries provenance forward.
An artist CV is a record of professional credentials — exhibitions, education, awards, residencies. What belongs on it, what doesn't, and how to tailor it.
An art advisor guides collectors buying and managing art. Know who they work for, how they're paid, and what to expect when one calls your studio.
Medium in art has three related meanings: the discipline or type of art, the specific materials a work is made from, and the binder that carries pigment in paint. Learn how to describe medium precisely in catalog records.
A giclée is a high-quality inkjet print made with archival pigment inks and acid-free substrates, used for both fine art originals and reproductions. Learn how the category works, what it discloses, and how it sits in the market.
A resale royalty entitles artists to a percentage of the sale price when their work is resold commercially. Learn how the right works in the EU and UK, and why no equivalent exists in the US.
A curator selects and interprets artworks for exhibition or institutional collections, without commercial representation. Learn how curators differ from gallerists and what their attention means for an artist's career.
A gallerist represents artists, manages primary market sales, and builds the commercial and critical context for a body of work. Learn what gallery representation involves and what artists should know before signing.
Fine art is visual art created primarily for aesthetic and intellectual purposes rather than practical function. Understand how the term is used in the contemporary art market and how it differs from applied and commercial art.
An edition is a defined set of identical or near-identical works produced from a single image or design. Learn how editions work across media, how impressions are counted, and what distinguishes an edition from a reproduction.
A condition report documents the physical state of an artwork at a specific moment. Learn what it must include, when to create one, and why it determines liability when damage occurs.
A body of work is the accumulated output of an artist's practice, considered as a coherent whole. Learn how it differs from a portfolio and why it matters to galleries, collectors, and institutions.
An auction house is an institution that sells art through competitive bidding on behalf of consignors. Learn how fees, estimates, and auction results affect an artist's market.
An artist statement is a first-person account of your current practice — what you make, why, and how. Learn what distinguishes it from a bio, manifesto, or artwork description.
An artist bio is a third-person narrative introducing you and your practice. Learn how to write one that works, how long it should be, and how it differs from an artist statement.
An art collector acquires and lives with original works by intention, building a collection over time. Learn what distinguishes collecting from buying, and what the collector relationship means for artists.
The secondary market is where art is resold after its first sale. Learn how secondary market results affect your primary pricing, what auction fees mean in practice, and what a "burnt" work costs you.
Provenance is the ownership history of a work of art. Learn what art provenance records contain, what gaps signal, and how to build the chain from your studio.
The primary market is where artwork is sold for the first time, directly benefiting the artist. Understand how primary market pricing works and why it's the foundation of a career.
A limited edition is a fixed number of impressions made from a single work, with a commitment that no additional impressions will be produced. Learn how edition numbering works, what total impressions really means, and how to structure an edition.
An inquiry is a collector's expression of interest in a specific work. Learn how to respond, what to capture, and why the inquiry record matters.
Consignment is an arrangement where an artist places work with a gallery for sale while retaining ownership. Learn what an art consignment agreement must cover and what to negotiate.
A commission is an arrangement to create an original work to a collector's specification. Know what commission agreements must cover, how to price commissions, and when to say no.
A certificate of authenticity (COA) identifies a work and confirms its maker. Learn what a COA must contain, who can issue one, and what makes it credible.
A catalog is an artist's complete documented record of their work. Learn what each record must contain, why completeness matters, and how the studio catalog differs from an exhibition catalogue.
An artist proof is a print set aside from the numbered edition, designated AP or E.A., and not included in the edition count. Understand what it means for your edition structure, pricing, and studio records.