the german formula for pricing paintings

[nibot]

One of my friends from my German class had an art gallery opening a few weeks ago.

She told us how one of the German gallery people had caught her musing about what prices at which to list her various paintings.

"Oh, but you just use the formula," the German gallery person responded.

"Errrr?"

It turns out that there is a formula for the price of artwork in Germany (???), at least for paintings. (Or maybe just at this gallery?) It is:

(your factor) * ((width in cm) + (height in cm)) = (price in EUR)

where

(your factor) = 8 for your first gallery show
= 10 for successive gallery shoes
and some higher numbers if you get various formal degrees in art.

Since this was my friend's first show, her factor was 8. So a 1 m x 1 m painting would be priced at 8 * (100 cm + 100 cm) = EUR 1600.

The ridiculousness of this system boggles the mind. Nonetheless, there is something "highly German" about it.

Comments

[gstef.livejournal.com]

Germans love formulas, they are so convenient, leaving no room for misinterpretation...

[rosiedee.livejournal.com]

I have quite a few friends who make a living off their art, and I was surprised to learn calculating price according to size is pretty standard! Even here in AMERICA.

[nibot.livejournal.com]

You mean I can't use this anecdote to promulgate stereotypes about Germany?? :-/

[rosiedee.livejournal.com]

No, this means we can make fun of ARTISTS and MATH.

[erinmack.livejournal.com]

intense! and also creepy!

[snarkyshark2.livejournal.com]

I love it! I would factor by time (set your own hourly wage).