Bits and pieces

Rufus Bird asks if the digital age can demystify the art world

SINCE THE 1990S ALMOST EVERY consumer market has been transformed by the internet. The art market has tried hard to embrace technology, which has certainly boosted the lower end, but much business continues as it has done for centuries: in person. At the beginning of this century, Sotheby’s conceived a way to disrupt the traditional model by selling online at the lower end in partnership with Amazon. Jeff Bezos explained the intent: “We’re trying to create a whole new auction site, one that makes sense for valuable objects. The point is to break new ground selling fully-authenticated, fully-guaranteed objects online using Sotheby’s experts around the world and its network of more than 2,800 dealers.’’ It was a good idea that came too early. It never took off, and Amazon stuck…

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The Critic (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2024

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