A Seller’s Guide to Pierre Soulages

He gained international recognition for his distinctive exploration of black as a colour and light source, a technique he termed Outrenoir (beyond black). It was these bold, large-scale black paintings that cemented his status as a master of contemporary art in the 1970s. The thick, textured layers of black paint used in his works were often scored or scraped to reveal intricate patterns and subtle variations in light reflection.

Soulages’ status as a major figure in contemporary art, and the distinctiveness of his coined Outrenoir style, ensure that his prints command substantial prices in the art market. Prices can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of pounds, with higher prices reserved for rare or more significant pieces. Unlike with many artists, the date of a Soulages prints’ creation has only a small bearing on its estimated value; prints from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s all do equally well at auction.

The market for Soulages’ work has shown considerable strength in recent years, particularly following the artist’s death in 2022. This event, as is often the case with renowned artists, has led to increased interest and higher auction prices for Soulages’ work. In fact, the majority of the highest-value Soulages auction sales have occurred since his passing. The hammer went down on a record price in April 2023 - the print was Eau-Forte XLI (1998), an etching that exemplifies Soulages’ style. However, as with all art investments, values can fluctuate based on broader market trends and collector interest.

Soulages’ Outrenoir prints are not the only artworks that achieve high values at auction. Other prints, with rich colour saturation and deep layering of colour and shadow, also remain popular. Eau-Forte Xa (1957), Eau-Forte XX (1972), and Lithographie n°4 (1957) are all sought-after examples.

Soulages favoured etchings and lithographs, with both styles of print proving popular with collectors. In general, however, etchings tend to achieve slightly higher prices. Pieces from his Eau-Forte series, particularly his artist proofs, are the most highly revered. Most of his print editions are considered boutique, comprising no more than 100 prints, and some as few as 30. This helps to preserve the rarity of each piece and drive up prices in comparison to his contemporaries with larger print editions.

Soulages’ long career means that the exact process of authentication will vary depending on the age of the print. His signature and method of numbering editions evolved; however, the helpful numbering strategy used to name his prints (often featuring simply the name of the series and a number) makes tracing and identifying prints easier.

The artist primarily collaborated with renowned French printing houses, including Mourlot and Lacourière-Frélaut for lithographs, and Lacourière for etchings. These associations can provide valuable provenance information. Soulages was meticulous about print quality, often personally overseeing the printing process.

A comprehensive catalogue raisonné of Soulages' printed works, Pierre Soulages: l'œuvre imprimé, was published by the BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France) in 2003. This catalogue, compiled by Pierre Encrevé and Marie-Cécile Miessner, is an essential reference for authentication. It documents Soulages' prints from 1952 to 2000, providing detailed information on each work.

Edition and Signature

In most cases, Soulages signed and numbered his prints in pencil in the lower margin. His signature is usually just his surname. If the print is an artist’s proof, this was often written out in full (“épreuve d'artiste”) in the bottom left. Although simple and clear when these markings are present, Soulages didn’t always number his editions. For definitive authentication, it's advisable to consult with recognised Soulages experts or reputable auction houses specialising in modern and contemporary art. They can provide in-depth analysis of the print's paper, ink, technique, and provenance, ensuring its authenticity.

Browse Pierre Soulages prints on the Trading Floor and find out more about the print market growth on the MAB100 Print Index.

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Patience, keen observation, and understanding of the shifts in the art market are crucial ingredients in achieving a profitable sale. Although demand for Soulages’ work has been consistent, his death in 2022 marked a significant up-turn in value and number of sales. Throughout 2023 and into 2024, the market has been favourable for sellers; more prints have been coming onto the market and countless records have been broken for Soulages’ work.

Before his death, a comprehensive exhibition was held at the Louvre from 2019-20, which served to spark renewed interest and boost Soulages’ market profile. Take note of upcoming retrospectives, or sales of post-war and contemporary art (often in the spring or autumn), as these events will likely attract serious collectors. Auction houses, such as Christie’s, Bonham’s, Phillips, and Sotheby’s will also publish value trajectory reports and auction results regularly on their websites. These resources can assist in determining whether or not now is a good time to start the sales process.

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.

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.

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.

Emerging art tech tools are vital in navigating the current, and evolving, digital art market landscape. For instance, by adding Pierre Soulages prints from our website to the MyPortfolio dashboard, users gain insight into unique sale opportunities and observe market performance and fluctuations as they happen, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our pioneering technology has revolutionised art portfolio management, making it more accessible and equipping users with data-driven insights for informed decisions. MyArtBroker harnesses cutting-edge technology driven by data, coupled with a team of industry experts, to deliver an exceptional experience. Our professionals work closely with clients, utilising the MyPortfolio dashboard, to provide personalised guidance for creating a profitable art collection. By merging technology and expertise, we are committed to offering unparalleled curation and customer service.