Talking Prices: Symbolic Meanings of Prices on the Market for Contemporary Art (Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology) (Hardcover)

by Olav Velthuis (Author) "From the inception of the modern art market in the first half of the nineteenth century, art dealers have defined their own identity as disinterested..." (more)
Key Phrases: superstar prices, superstar narrative, prudent narrative, New York, Hostile Worlds, Gagosian Gallery (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
The book is an excellent, readable and thorough analysis of how prices are set in the contemporary art market.
(The Art Newspaper )

[Talking Prices] provides an excellent analysis of the tension between art and commerce that characterizes the art world.
(Stuart Plattner American Anthropologist )

Review
Olav Velthuis has built a graceful, sturdy bridge across a torrent: the turbulent flow of art markets. On one side we have the supposition that art and money follow incompatible principles; on the other, the claim that markets reduce all commodities to creatures of supply and demand. By looking closely at the actual culture and social connections of art markets in New York and Amsterdam, he arrives at insight after insight into a meaning-drenched form of commerce, and by extension into the place of meanings in markets of every kind. This bridge stands firm.
(Viviana A. Zelizer, author of "The Purchase of Intimacy" and "The Social Meaning of Money" )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (July 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691121664
• ISBN-13: 978-0691121666
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #677,266 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing economic analysis of how fine art is sold, February 9, 2007

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Getting a handle on the economics of the art market is much like grabbing smoke. Dealers are loath to discuss the financial side of their business and the private nature of their transactions frustrates researchers. Even the ostensibly open world of auctions is full of slippery practices. None of that deterred Olav Velthuis, whose exhaustive research into the art market yields a fascinating economic analysis. He explores the anticommercial bias of dealers and even finds some tangible factors that influence art prices. While impressive, Velthuis' work would have benefited from a more conversational, less academic tone. His fascinating price study, for instance, focuses on "coefficients" and "t-values" rather than on actual prices. Still, we recommend this study for its ambitious and intriguing attempt to shed light on a little-known corner of the economy.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very enlightening, May 6, 2007

By	P. Wade "Smart Shopper" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book isn't easy reading, but it has some very useful information for artists regarding pricing of their work.