Have we run out of good art to sell?
October 21 2013
Video: Channel 4 News
Paul Mason of Channel 4 News wonders if the profusion of works by lesser known 20th Century artists on offer at Frieze Masters is because there isn't enough good art to go round, or rather the good stuff is just too expensive. One dealer, exhibiting the work of an entirely unknown Hungarian dentist (above), says somewhat unconvincingly, "This is not about finding something else to flog".
Update - an Old Master dealing reader writes:
Your post "Have we run of good art to sell" was a pleasure to read and see.
Indeed, even though the old masters are oft lamented as being almost depleted, it seems that modern and contemporary masters face the same problem.
Where with the old masters it's more a problem of shrinking supply, the modern masters have had to cope with huge and growing demand, surging prices and an influx of new "collectors". Nowadays it seems easier (not to mention cheaper) to get your hands on a decent Brueghel than it is to acquire a half-decent Monet, Van Gogh or Picasso.
