How to choose an art print: size, paper, edition — the guide
You want something good on a wall. Not a supermarket poster: something with presence. But between sizes, paper weights and edition runs, it's easy to get lost. This guide is here to make it simple.
Size: start with the wall
Before looking at the image, look at the wall. A print that's too small disappears in a large space; one that's too big overwhelms a small room.
For a living room wall or above a sofa, aim for a large format around 50 × 70 cm. For a bedroom, a study or a hallway, 30 × 40 cm is plenty. In between, sizes around 42 × 56 or 43 × 63 cm work beautifully on their own.
Orientation matters too: a space between two windows calls for a vertical print, a wall above a low cabinet for a horizontal one.
Paper: where it's really decided
A fine art print isn't office paper. It's thick, matte, acid-free stock, printed with pigment inks so the colours hold over time.
Around 200–220 gsm: the standard for good prints. Supple but substantial, with intense colour.
300 gsm and above: for carefully produced editions. The paper has a stiffness and a texture you can almost feel. That's what I use for my current prints, made in Brussels on Canson Arches 88 (310 to 330 gsm), a 100% cotton paper.
If a product page doesn't state the paper weight, ask: it's a reliable sign of quality.
Edition: what “limited” actually means
A limited edition is a commitment: the image will only ever be printed a set number of times. A print numbered 7/20 is the seventh of twenty. Once the twenty are gone, the edition is closed.
The shorter the edition, the rarer each copy. My current prints are issued in runs of 10 or 20 per size, and several editions are already sold out.
The signature
A hand-signed print is a guarantee of authenticity, and a concrete gesture: the artist held that sheet before it went to you. Check that the signature and the number are handwritten, not printed.
Three concrete examples
Ce qui croît de travers30×40 or 50×70 cm · 10 per size
Inventaire d'une présence30×40 or 42×56 cm · edition of 20
Comme tu disais32.9×48.3 or 43.2×63.2 cm · edition of 20In short
Choose the size for the wall, a paper of at least 200 gsm, a numbered limited edition, and a signature by hand. Every print in the shop meets those criteria.
Going further: how to frame a fine art print and what to check before ordering online.