And one wonders… what drives us to collect (art)?

Without a deep understanding of psychology, we could say that there are many reasons why someone, who initially had no particular inclination towards such objects, or at least didn't believe they had one, might start a collection. Strictly speaking, private collecting, driven by personal interests, is characterized by a non-utilitarian accumulation of natural or artificial objects, which may or may not be classified, and which are related to each other by internal elements that are usually only visible to the collector . For the collector, it becomes a collection when it is something more than just the sum of its objects.

This accumulation, though it may seem uncritical to outsiders, makes sense because the collector has decided it should, based on a specific criterion. This criterion can be governed by the most basic instinct: "I like it, I buy it," or by more "scientific" criteria such as "cars from before 1980" or "coins from colonial Spain," or even by much more bizarre parameters: "portraits of people with their backs turned," "combs used by celebrities," or "rubber ducks."

Whatever binds such a collection together, the collector's motivation usually revolves around very specific attitudes that a keen observer could decipher without much effort: the satisfaction of finding something unique that others, through ignorance, have failed to appreciate and therefore cannot possess; anticipating trends, being avant-garde, promoting future tastes; seeing your collection appreciate in value as a result of your knowledge allowing you to enjoy it and, moreover, increase its value because each acquired object involves observing new characteristics. This pleasure is accompanied by an element of prestige that, to a greater or lesser degree, also motivates collectors, who see it as proof of their wealth and generosity. Although certain collections may be incomprehensible to the general public, there is always a context in which to stand out and be considered a true "idol."

And surely the art market is one of the best places to cultivate these "collecting attitudes." Collecting art is as old as the notion of individuality, and since the dawn of humanity, we have countless examples of the accumulation of precious objects: works gathered in temples, splendid funerary offerings, royal treasures… Over time, the methods of collecting became more sophisticated, and power resided in acquiring increasingly exquisite, unique, and beautiful pieces for the era. The Medici, the Habsburgs, the Popes are all small examples of how collecting has been a driving force intimately linked to artistic creation and the establishment of prevailing tastes and forms—what Art History has come to call "styles."

From the 19th century onward, we notice the emergence of a new element: some collectors see in works of art not only their artistic merit but also their market value. Gertrude Stein maintained that no one guided by such motives would ever become a first-rate collector. Be that as it may, not all collectors have a good nose for talent and make the right bets, so they prefer to be guided by the value of what's currently trending, but that's another story altogether…

Returning to collectors, many are aware that their aesthetic judgments influence contemporary artistic creation, resulting not only in "objects for subjects" but also in "subjects for the object." They identify, in many cases to the point of obsession, with a specific artist and become patrons whom the artist, in turn, needs because they see their work appreciated and understood. Ultimately, collectors serve humanity's thirst for art and, at the same time, the artist's yearning for immortality.

For a brief or extended period, works are created, enter a collection, and wait, accumulating funds, to be sent to their next destination. As if frozen in time, they are observed, perhaps exhibited, and quite possibly, put back into circulation in the ceaseless market. Thanks to this system, we can understand the personalities of great figures in history, since each collection reveals the essence of the one who treasured it, even after their passing. Collecting is creating a self-portrait that grants you eternity, and if those works end up back on the market, another collector will enjoy the acquisition, resurrecting the spirit that the work evokes and creating their own self-portrait.