What are some main differences between an original painting and its reproduction?

Question

Reproduction such as a postcard.

Answer 1

Sometimes the original color of a painting is changed when it is reproduced (e.g. the painting will be given more of a yellow undertone than it actually has). This isn't as common anymore, but it still can happen. Also, because there is often a difference in size, many details of the image are lost. Also, some paintings can be breathtaking for their size, and are not as impressive when shrunken (Stuart Davis is a good example of this).

Since many painters have actual texture on their paintings from the thickness of paint (think Van Gogh), the light of the gallery develops a relationship of the painting that is lost in the reproduction. The loss of the actual texture also takes away from the beauty of the image in general - it seems more real when it has the third dimension to it.

There is also the issue of value. Because there are so many copies of paintings made, the overal value of the reproductions are less, making the reproduction more accessible to the general public.

Answer 2

An original painting is the work of the hand that initially envisioned it.

A reproduction is made by a copier, be the copier man or macine.

There are some reproductions that are so close to originals that experts struggle to tell them apart. While the original is more valuable simply because it was the first, such reproductions are also valuable because of the talent and skill it takes to make such a close replica.

Other reproductions lose the texture and some of the details, and are considered cheap.

And there is everything in between.

The typical reproduction is just as nice as the original for pure enjoyment. Originals are typically in museums, with collections, or held by family as an heirloom.

Answer 3

Value
There is only one original so it has more value.
There can be thousands of reproductions so there is not near as much value in them.
For investment, you would want the original, but to just enjoy the picture a reproduction would be fine.

Answer 4

All great answers, would like to add one more thing - permanence.

Because difference in pigments used in good paintings as opposed to reproductions, the colours in a properly-cared-for painting will outlive a print by hundreds of years.