Fashion is the most unfaithful of women. It constantly changes preferences, and at such a speed that humanity cannot keep up with it. Even some unfortunate thousand years ago, people rushed to the opera, and the most important entertainment was not cinema at all. But a stage appeared with generally understandable, predictable sound passages, and classical music had to go into the shadows. There is almost no music left in rap at all - in this way, it took revenge on pop music for the destruction of the opera and now reigns on the stage. Let it have fun while it can. In a couple of years, fashion will not spare it either: the graveyard of fashion is much larger than that of the most inept surgeon. However, neither the opera nor the stage disappeared completely; they just left the halls with columns for more modest rooms for nostalgics and specialists.
A similar story happened with the theater. Television made it possible to view the far side of the moon, the life of insects, and the most sensational performances. Now you can absorb the beautiful, seizing it with popcorn with beer, without even separating the soft. That is, without lifting a soft ass from a soft sofa.
Harmful fashion makes fun of everything that humanity is proud of. Here is an example of painting. It began its existence almost simultaneously with the first conscious sounds uttered by our great-great-grandfathers' great-great-grandfathers. Later, it helped develop religion, replaced photography, and finally became an element of decoration and investment. However, with the advent of computer technology, the role of original painting as an interior element began to decline, and it seems that it will soon break on the stone floor of history: Why pay thousands of hard-earned money for eternal, if you can buy something in a beautiful frame under glass for a couple of hundred and change it when you get bored? Posters are something that is available to the general population who want some comfort in their home.
The story with medieval hairstyles was repeated, just the other way around. In the days of castles and mythical dragons, aristocratic women lived in cold, damp rooms. Their hairstyles could not withstand such mockery, and as a result, in the portraits of that time, all the girls were high-browed - this is so as not to offend them with the word bald. Fashionable peasant women wanted to be at least somewhat like the mistress, and they shaved their foreheads. In the modern view, the planet of bald aunts is a horror, but who is to blame for this?
The widespread popularity of posters has resulted in even those with substantial bank accounts adorning their homes with mass-produced prints. Consequently, posters have not only displaced paintings but have also caught up with them in terms of price. The only domain where paintings still hold ground is in business. However, products from Photoshop are not yet considered investment-worthy, as they don't guarantee a return on the money invested.
From an investment perspective, paintings prove to be more lucrative than cryptocurrencies, bitcoins, and other virtual assets, which, despite claims, are susceptible to inflation. While advocating for everyone to invest in paintings may sound appealing, the situation is not so straightforward. There's a problem - first, there's the risk of theft. While keeping a painting in a bank is an option, it diminishes its role as decoration, a symbol of the owner's prosperity.
Secondly, if you've invested half of your fortune in a Picasso painting and spent the other half on indulgences, you may find yourself in a predicament. You may no longer desire the Picasso, but still, have a need for other luxuries. The challenge then becomes converting the painting back into cash. Forget about selling it to individuals - not everyone has millions to spend on such treasures. Auctions? They're not a reliable solution either, as the profits mostly go to the auction house.
Thirdly, resorting to Chinese copies to cover your walls is also not a viable option. Personally, it's disconcerting to see a wealthy house in a movie adorned with a famous painting from the Prado or the Louvre.
What's the advice? Well, nothing specific. The decision is yours to make, but remember that no advisor has ever been punished for their advice. The only suggestion is to follow the "nothing too much" rule: it's better to make a hundred dollars and stay healthy than to make two hundred with complications.
Consider investing in proven companies for essential things: medical care from an experienced doctor, a reliable car (not necessarily Russian or Chinese, but not a Ferrari either). A dependable car won't let you down in crucial moments, and a skilled doctor can prevent fatal problems. Regarding paintings, rely on your taste - even if the five thousand you spent doesn't turn into five million, let it be a hundred thousand, and in the meantime, the painting will adorn your home.
The graduates of Soviet universities tend to have a closer connection to picture-interlocutors. This particular style of painting is less influenced by one's mood, health, age, or the time of day. Engaging with these paintings involves a conversation with the artwork, as new details and mysteries are discovered with each observation. Typically, these paintings are one-of-a-kind and may appreciate in value over time, especially as the reputation of the artist grows.
Why did I bring up university graduates? You might find it hard to believe, but it's related to education. In contrast, mainstream American education tends to focus on preparing students for specific professions. If literature and art are not essential for their future work, Americans are less likely to invest time in studying them. Instead, they may prefer to spend their resources on acquiring items like another car, a painting from a Chinese assembly line, or an abstract poster, rather than something unique. This, too, is a way of addressing the issue.
How accurate is this perspective? I've already mentioned: "I don't know. Ask the fashion."