What is a Gicleé Print?

With the technical advancements of computers comes a process of printing known as gicleé, a French term meaning "spray of ink". A gicleé (pronounced "zhee-clay") is a high quality, fine art print.

Gicleé is a digital technology utilizing very high resolution scanning of the original work of art and printing with pigmented inks on artists' canvas. The image is placed onto the canvas by applying all colors simultaneously rather than in four passes as done in the four color printing process, providing absolutely precise color registration. The inks used in gicleé printing have been time tested for longevity and color-fastness. Each print is produced one at a time with an amazing array of more than 5 million colors. Equally important is the incredible lush and velvety texture of the print.

Violet Parkhurst personally takes each gicleé into her studio and hand embellishes the print to enhance the color, depth and texture.

What is an Artist Proof versus a Limited Edition reproduction?

Every authentic Parkhurst reproduction is made using the finest quality materials and with the highest degree of craftsmanship possible to ensure decades of enjoyment for our collectors. 

Each Giclee print, whether it is an Artist Proof or Limited Edition Series, is printed, stretched and framed under the close supervision of the artist herself and personally inspected by Violet Parkhurst to ensure the highest resemblance to the original. 

Upon completion of the printing process, each reproduction is hand-sealed, numbered and signed by the Artist.  In addition, a genuine Parkhurst thumbprint is affixed to the back of each reproduction to ensure authenticity.  Each Artist Proof reproduction is then placed upon Violet’s easel and personally hand-embellished by her, further enhancing the beauty and value of the A/P Series.

Select A/Ps also receive a remark, an original artist sketch, on the back of the canvas, serving to further authenticate the reproduction, and provide the collector with a reproduction that is, in essence, like no other.  This meticulous and often lengthy process only allows for a small number of reproductions to be made each year, typically only 50 Artist Proofs and 300 Limited Editions for each original.

For over 50 years the Parkhurst commitment to quality and craftsmanship has elevated Violet Parkhurst Artist Proofs and Limited Editions to legendary notoriety, coveted by collectors and museums around the world.

 

 

GALLERY | BIO | CHINA | BOOKS | APPRAISAL PROGRAM | DEALERS | LINKS | CONTACT US