Three Forms © Barbara Hepworth 1970
Key Takeaways
Barbara Hepworth's prints maintain consistent popularity with collectors, with individual works typically fetching £1,000 to £10,000. The coveted Aegean Suite (1971) has seen complete portfolios achieve over £20,000, with a record sale of £25,749 at Christie's New York in 2023. Authentication requires examining paper quality, printing technique, and provenance, referencing the catalogue raisonné compiled by Hepworth’s granddaughter, Sophie Bowness. Strategic timing of sales can optimise returns, influenced by cultural trends, academic interest, exhibition schedules, and anniversary years. Sellers should also consider the broader British art market context and seasonal patterns when deciding the best time to sell.
Barbara Hepworth is best known for her abstract figurative sculptures. She also created a significant body of prints that captured her distinctive vision, translating her interest in three-dimensional spaces into colourful, expressive two-dimensional forms. While her sculptures explored the interplay of form, space, and light through tangible materials, her prints allowed her to experiment with similar concepts using colour, line, and texture on paper. This guide aims to help sellers navigate the market for Hepworth's prints, providing insights into valuation, authentication, and effective selling strategies.
Hepworth's artistic vision was deeply influenced by the landscapes of Cornwall (and later other destinations) and her interest in the relationship between human figures and their environment. Her prints often reflect these themes, featuring abstract forms that echo the curves and lines found in nature. Hepworth began exploring printmaking more seriously in the 1960s, thanks to a collaboration with Stanley Jones, the director of Curwen Studio in London. After this introduction into lithography, Hepworth went on to produce many revered print series, such as the Aegean Suite and Opposing Forms.
How Much Do Barbara Hepworth Prints Sell For?
Barbara Hepworth is a key figure in British Modernism. Knighted for her contributions to British art in 1965, Hepworth’s reputation ensures the market for her prints remains buoyant, with prices generally increasing over time. Individual prints typically fetch between £1,000 and £10,000, depending on their rarity, condition, and the series to which they belong.
Hepworth's Aegean Suite (1971), a series of nine lithographs inspired by her trips to Greece, is particularly sought after. Complete portfolios of this series have achieved impressive prices at auction, with one set selling for £25,749 at Christie's New York in 2023. This marked a record print sale for Hepworth, due in part to this collection being the first in the edition of 60. Individual prints from this series typically achieve between £3,000 and £8,000, with variations based on the specific image and its condition.
Another popular series is Opposing Forms (1969/70), a collection of 12 lithographs that explores the power of contrasting forces. These pieces balance out shapes, colours, geometric and organic artistic creation, but also more abstract concepts, such as the interplay between nature and the human condition. In 2018, a full portfolio of these lithographs sold for £23,819.
Many of Hepworth’s prints appear in pairs, thanks to her love of contrast and comparison. Two lithographs, Genesis (1969) and Pastorale (1969) sold for £8,500 in 2018, nearly three times their high estimate. The record, however, for highest value individual print sale is held by Three Forms (1969), an artist’s proof of which sold for £7,000 in 2021.
As most of Hepworth’s prints were created around the same time, their place in the trajectory of her career has little bearing on their value. Equally, most editions are the same size: 60. Instead, value estimates are drawn from popularity, condition, and market demand.
How Do You Authenticate A Barbara Hepworth Print?
The most important factor in authenticating your Hepworth print is to establish its provenance. The process typically begins by thoroughly tracing the print’s history of ownership and exhibition. Any documentation, such as certificates of authenticity, gallery receipts, or correspondence with the artist or her estate, can be invaluable in establishing legitimacy.
Technical analysis can also be helpful, but can only be carried out by a professional appraiser. Hepworth used high-quality papers for her prints, including Barchem Green, handmade wove, and TH Saunders paper. Understanding the characteristics of these materials and identifying them is essential.
A definitive catalogue raisonné of Hepworth’s drawings, paintings, and prints is being compiled by Sophie Bowness, Hepworth’s granddaughter. This resource will provide information on techniques, editions, and variations; in the meantime, however, it’s possible to contact the Hepworth Estate for information on individual pieces.
Hepworth worked with several print studios and publishers throughout her career, including Curwen Studio and Marlborough Fine Art. Each of these collaborations has its own characteristics in terms of paper, technique, and style, and will be verified with a unique stamp or certificate.
Edition and Signature
Barbara Hepworth typically signed and numbered her prints in pencil in the lower margin, underneath the printed image. Her name, written in full in cursive, appears on the right, with the edition number written as a fraction on the left.
Hepworth's print editions are fairly consistent in size, often capped at 60 with a few artist proofs. These small editions enhance the scarcity and, therefore, the demand. Artist's proofs, often marked 'A.P.', are highly prized by collectors and fetch higher prices upon sale. In some cases, Hepworth also created special editions that incorporated embossing or hand-embellishments.
Browse Barbara Hepworth prints on the Trading Floor and find out more about the print market growth on the MAB100 Print Index.
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Has Your Barbara Hepworth Print Been Kept In Good Condition?
When assessing your print, start by examining the paper for signs of damage or ageing, such as discolouration, foxing, or acid burn, particularly around the edges. Hepworth used high-quality, acid-free papers, which are generally resistant to degradation but can still be affected by environmental factors.
Check for surface imperfections like creases, scratches, or indentations, paying special attention to edges and corners. Hepworth's prints often feature delicate embossing or textural elements. These details should remain intact and well-defined.
The inks used in lithographic printing can fade when exposed to too much light. Examine the print under good lighting to detect any fading or colour shifts. Hepworth's use of colour, while often subtle, is crucial to the overall effect of her prints. Any noticeable colour change can significantly impact value.
For proper preservation, store prints in acid-free environments, preferably flat portfolios or folders, away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity. If framed, use UV-protective glass and acid-free matting. For a thorough assessment, consider consulting a paper conservator specialising in modern British prints.
For advice on how to get started with condition assessment of your Barbara Hepworth print, contact MyArtBroker.
When Is The Best Time To Sell My Barbara Hepworth Print?
Market trends, ebbs and flows in collector interest, economic strength and weakness, and significant exhibitions or anniversaries should all have a bearing on when you decide to sell your Hepworth print. Overall, the market for Hepworth's work has shown steady growth over the past decades, with particular spikes following major retrospectives or renewed interest in British Modernism.
Major exhibitions or retrospectives of Hepworth's work often generate increased interest and awareness in collectors, driving up demand and prices for her prints. For example, the retrospective focussing on Hepworth’s sculptural works at the Tate Britain in 2015 sparked renewed international attention on Hepworth's work, including her prints. In the year that followed, there were numerous high-value print sales, such as Winter Solstice (1969), which sold for £2,800, almost double its high estimate.
Anniversary years related to significant moments in Hepworth's career can also create opportune selling moments. For instance, 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of Hepworth's passing, which is likely to spark renewed interest in her work across all mediums.
Keep an eye on broader trends in the art market, particularly those related to British Modernism or mid-20th century abstraction. Surges of interest in these areas can be beneficial to sellers. Additionally, any new publications or scholarly works, such as the completion of Bowness’ catalogue raisonné, can refocus attention on her market.
We recommend monitoring sales results and value trajectory reports from major auction houses and galleries. These can provide insights into which series or periods of Hepworth's printmaking are currently in highest demand. For instance, if there's a surge of interest in Hepworth's Aegean Suite, it might be an opportune time to sell works from that series.
MyArtBroker offers advanced art tech tools to help you determine the optimal time to sell. Our MyPortfolio service features an AI-powered value indicator that provides real-time valuations of individual prints based on both public and private sales data. Combined with our complimentary valuations, we can help ensure your print achieves maximum value by selling at the perfect moment.
Ways to Sell with MyArtBroker
At MyArtBroker, our specialists provide a free market valuation for your artwork, offering a level of transparency unmatched in today’s market. In addition to our valuations, through our online Trading Floor, you can access real-time insights into works by the artist you’re looking to sell, including pieces that are most in demand, wanted, or currently for sale: allowing sellers to trust the valuation that they are provided.
Additionally, the MyPortfolio collection management service grants you free access to our comprehensive print market database. This resource allows you to review auction histories for the specific work you’re looking to sell, including hammer prices, values paid, and seller returns. In a fluctuating market, this historical data is invaluable - and often comes at a cost elsewhere - offering insights into past and current values to further inform decisions based on market timing and conditions. In addition to our specialists guidance, you have concrete data.
Our approach is tailored to align with the unique attributes of each artwork, and offer optimal results:
How a Private Sale Works
Unlike peer-to-peer platforms, which lack specialised expertise, authenticity guarantees, and legal infrastructure for high-value sales, MyArtBroker operates through private sales ensuring a secure and seamless transaction process. We charge sellers 0% to sell, and take a small commission from our buyers, absorbing essential aspects including insurance, shipping, and marketing - at no extra cost to the seller. There is no magic to it, we’re a lean specialised business with less overheads than traditional models meaning we can do better for our clients.
Our revenue is derived from buyer commissions only, which are individually negotiated upon offer, and we aim to give the client the best return in the market place. By focusing on high-value artworks in excess of £10,000, we provide specialised care and expertise, ensuring each piece receives the attention it deserves, while simultaneously maximising returns with our clients. For works that fall below this threshold speak to the team about a recommendation, we offer market advisory free of charge. Our goal at MyArtBroker is to offer a seamless solution, setting us apart in the art market.
Advisory and Recommendations
In cases for artists and artworks, where our existing network of collectors isn’t the best fit due to value, medium or condition we collaborate with reputable partners to facilitate its sale. Carefully tailoring your artwork to the right party. This tailored approach is especially important as it considers the unique attributes of each artwork, providing sellers with the best possible outcome in today’s shifting art market. You can discuss this approach with us without charge as part of our advisory service.
Such recommendations are on a case-by-case basis, and ensures broader exposure and takes advantage of our knowledge of where a work will do best.
Barbara Hepworth Collection Management with MyPortfolio
In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.
Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jamieson, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.
