What Makes a Print | A Conversation with 50ty50ty

What makes a print?

 

It’s the collaborative interplay between studios – it’s the tangible result of a collaborative alchemy, a living artefact of creative symbiosis. It’s ‘all hands on decks’ of silk screens and the evolving dialogue embedded within its process. It’s the synergy between artist and printmaker – a tactile journey in residency. Unlike the solitary rituals of studio practice, the world of printmaking is a collective endeavour – where every step of the process is imbued with shared intention and technical virtuosity.

 

Originally, I approached this interview with a rather shallow mindset – questions poised around the pragmatic dive into art as an investment, strategies schemes to begin one's collection and the monetary allure of artist prints. It quickly unravelled into discourse around the utter alchemy of printmaking and the emotional resonance of beginning your collection here – in this moment. As 50ty/50ty prepares to showcase its editions at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, its founder, Jeanne Legrand, explores how their platform has not only redefined contemporary printmaking but also built a bridge between collectors and South Africa’s most compelling artistic voices.

 

“What makes a print?” Legrand pauses for a second before offering her answer: “It’s not just the finished work, but everything that happens in between.” By stepping into 50ty/50tys artist residency (that typically lasts a week), the artist immerses themselves in a world perhaps completely foreign to them. The artists work side-by-side with master printmaker Wim Legrand to reimagine their practice within the language of screen printing – his skill limitless (see Mia Chaplin’s impasto transform into something truly remarkable and an artwork all its own). For many, it’s a first foray into the medium, a space to pause their usual rhythm and embark on a new creative journey.

 

“It’s inherently collaborative,” Jeanne explains. “Artists, accustomed to the solitude of their studios, are invited here to step into a dialogue – to stretch the boundaries of their practice while engaging with the technical and conceptual nuances of printmaking.”

 

The process of translating an artist's work, like Mia Chaplin’s painterly textures, into the language of print is an alchemical one. The materials, gestures, and marks undergo a metamorphosis, retaining their tactile essence while emerging as something entirely distinct.

 

“It’s not just a translation – it’s reinvention,” Jeanne adds. “The print becomes a thing of its own, a work born entirely anew rather than replication.”

 

While 50ty/50ty prints hold undeniable aesthetic and conceptual value, they also represent an entry point for collectors. Priced accessibly and produced in limited editions, they allow for meaningful engagement with the work of emerging and mid-career artists.

 

“We started 50ty/50ty because we wanted to own works by artists we loved – Mia Chaplin, Michael Taylor, Ruby Swinney – but couldn’t afford their larger pieces,” Jeanne shares. “This platform is about creating opportunities for others to do the same.”

 

 

And those opportunities often lead to deeper connections. Jeanne recounts how collectors who began with a 50ty/50ty edition have gone on to follow the careers of these artists, acquiring major works and watching their practices evolve.

“It’s not about speculation or strategy,” she insists. “Buy what you love. Build a collection that reflects your passion. The value comes from the relationships you form – with the work, the artists, and the stories behind them.”

 

As 50ty/50ty prepares to showcase its Editions at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, their mission is clear: to champion printmaking as a space of experimentation and connection.

“What makes a print?” Jeanne’s answer echoes: It’s the tactile process, the shared intention, and the collaborative spirit. It’s a medium that demands attention to detail while embracing spontaneity, where hands, minds, and voices converge.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just beginning your journey, a print offers more than an image – it offers a story, a process, and a shared moment in time.