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Other sites tend to make "viewing" part of the experience, and I'm guessing this doesn't actually lead to sales most of the time. Anyway the best way to view a
by 7952 13y ago
Other sites tend to make "viewing" part of the experience, and I'm guessing this doesn't actually lead to sales most of the time. Anyway the best way to view a painting is in person.
Making the commercial aspect of buying art just like any other purchase is appealing to me (instead of a mediated experience). I think the benefit of this is similar to the buy it now button on eBay; its for people who just want to buy and don't want to mess about.
For expensive art this is just going to be a friendlier alternative to auction. For cheaper stuff it could make buying original art like any other purchase. For that you need a good returns policy that every one trusts. Who is better than Amazon for that?
- adregan 13y agoThat's an interesting thought concerning what leads to sales. Galleries don't really A/B test, and aesthetics and appearance are perhaps more important than sales. I wonder if Amazon will be able to create bridges to the galleries in the same way that a site like Artsy might? The fine art world cares a great deal about the image it projects—will galleries want to be on Amazon (will people spend 10s of thousands of dollars via 1 click shopping)? Part of me is excited about this as it might knock the crazy fine arts world down a few notches. I highly recommend the documentary with the late great Robert Hughes "The Mona Lisa Curse." It explores the extreme amount of capital that flooded the art world, drove up prices, and led to a world of less than stellar art. Maybe if Koons or Hirst start selling on Amazon, things will start to even out.