Michael Findlay

Pese a que el mundo del Arte y el Derecho tradicionalmente se nos han presentado como ámbitos alejados el uno el otro, lo cierto es que hoy el sistema jurídico condiciona como nunca la creación artística, su difusion, conservacion y comercializacion. La conocida aversion y desinteres de los artistas y demas operadores del mercado del arte por el derecho choca en nuestros dias con una realidad aplastante: la normativa juridica en los paises occidentales ha crecido tanto, como consecuencia de lo que ya en 1977 el profesor de Yale Grant Gilmore califico como "orgia de creacion de leyes", que hoy no es posible obviarla por nadie, ni tampoco por los protagonistas del mundo del arte. No es posible, pero tampoco es inteligente, pues en la medida en que el arte ha cobrado una mayor importancia economica en nuestra sociedad, son muy numerosos los ataques que en sus derechos e intereses culturales y economicos sufren los artistas, los museos, las instituciones culturales, los coleccionistas, los Estados y la sociedad en general. Consecuentemente con esta nueva realidad, la coleccion "Arte, Mercado y Derecho" de la Fundacio Gala-Salvador Dali se creo en el año 2011 con la voluntad de promover un conocimiento sobre temas legales y economicos que pueda ser util a todos los estamentos e instituciones mencionados, y que contribuya la proteccion, conservacion, divulgacion y prestigio del patrimonio artistico de todos los ciudadanos.

On the tenth anniversary of its publication, this updated edition of a work ARTNews hailed as "one of the best books ever published on the art world" features new material on the latest art deals, reflections on race and culture, the impact of the pandemic on the art world, and more. Internationally renowned dealer and market expert Michael Findlay offers a lively and authoritative look at the financial and emotional value of art throughout history. In this newly revised, updated, and generously illustrated edition Findlay draws on a half-century in the business and a passion for great art to question and redefine what we mean by "value," addressing developments in this conversation since the book was first published in 2012: the rise of NFTs and digital art; the auction house as theatre; the pressing relationship between art and societys fraught political landscape; and the impact of the pandemic. With style and wry wit, Findlay demystifies how art is bought and sold while also constantly looking beyond sales figures to emphasize the primacy of arts essential, noncommercial worth. Coloring his account with wise advice, insider anecdotes involving scoundrels and scams, stories of celebrity collectors, and remarkable discoveries, Findlay has distilled a lifetimes experience in this indispensable guide, now updated for todays sophisticated and discerning audience.

When it comes to viewing art, living in the information age is not necessarily a benefit. So argues Michael Findlay in this book that encourages a new way of looking at art. Much of this thinking involves stripping away what we have been taught and instead trusting our own instincts, opinions, and reactions. Including reproductions of works by Mark Rothko, Paul Klee, Joan Miro, Jacob Lawrence, and other modern and contemporary masters, this book takes readers on a journey through modern art. Chapters such as "What Is a Work of Art?", "Can We Look and See at the Same Time?", and "Real Connoisseurs Are Not Snobs," not only give readers the confidence to form their own opinions, but also encourages them to make connections that spark curiosity, intellect, and imagination. "The most important thing for us to grasp," writes Findlay, "is that the essence of a great work of art is inert until it is seen. Our engagement with the work of art liberates its essence." After reading this book, even the most intimidated art viewer will enter a museum or gallery feeling more confident and leave it feeling enriched and inspired.