Framing a Vuillard Print Yourself Versus Buying It Framed
DIY framing can save real money on a Vuillard print, but the savings depend on the size of the work and your tolerance for a first attempt that may not go to plan.
Yes, you can frame a Vuillard print at home, and for standard sizes up to about 18 by 24 inches a ready made frame plus a mat costs roughly $40 to $90. Larger works, or anything you want to protect for decades, are usually better left to a professional framer.
When Framing at Home Works
Vuillard prints in standard sizes are the easiest case for framing Vuillard prints at home. Many reproductions are cut to common dimensions, so a stock frame from an art or craft retailer fits without cutting anything. A ready made frame with an included mat typically runs $30 to $60 at the smaller end, and a solid wood frame closer to $80 to $120. Assembly takes about twenty minutes with a screwdriver and clean hands.
The style also helps you. Vuillard's interiors are busy, warm and densely patterned, so a plain dark wood or black frame with a neutral mat sits comfortably against them. Nothing about the look demands bespoke work. A simple frame will not fight the image, and for a print rather than an original, that is usually the right call.
Two cautions matter. Never let the print touch the glass directly, because condensation and sticking will damage the paper over time, and use a mat or spacer to keep an air gap. Also check that any stock frame is described as acid free or archival, since cheap mats can yellow and burn a line into the paper within a few years.
What a Professional Framer Buys You
Custom framing solves the problems DIY cannot. A framer cuts the mat to an exact opening, which matters if your print is a non standard size, and builds the package with acid free board, UV filtering glazing and proper spacers. Costs run from roughly $150 for a small simple frame to $400 or more for large works with conservation glass.
The honest tradeoff is that a professional job is not visually better on day one. It lasts longer. Conservation materials resist fading and acid burn, and the corners stay square. If the print is an inexpensive reproduction you may replace in five years, that durability is money spent for nothing. If it is a lithograph you intend to keep, it is the sensible spend.
The high framing costs that frustrate most buyers come from labor, not materials. You can reduce them by asking for a simple profile, skipping ornate mouldings, or having a framer cut only the mat while you supply the frame yourself. That hybrid route often lands around $50 to $80 and handles the one step beginners get wrong.
When DIY Makes Sense
- The print is a reproduction you paid under a few hundred dollars for
- It fits a standard frame size without trimming
- You are comfortable that the result looks homemade on close inspection
- You plan to reframe it later if the piece earns a permanent spot
The Middle Path Most Buyers Take
Most people land between the two extremes. Buy a decent stock frame, pay a shop around $25 to $60 to cut an archival mat and mount the print, and assemble it yourself. This avoids the most common DIY failure, which is a crooked or overlarge mat window, while skipping the $300 custom quote. The result looks bought and costs about a third as much.
One point deserves emphasis. Vuillard's palette is deep and warm, browns, muted violets and ochres, and it is forgiving of simple framing in a way a spare graphite drawing is not. You are not framing something that punishes a modest choice. Start simple, and upgrade only if the print proves it belongs on your wall for good.
A framer charges for certainty, not for materials. Decide how much certainty your print is worth.
| Approach | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ready made frame, DIY | $40 to $90 | Standard sizes, reproductions |
| Hybrid, stock frame plus cut mat | $70 to $140 | Non standard sizes on a budget |
| Full custom framing | $150 to $400 and up | Large prints or long term keeps |
Cost comparison at a glance
Key takeaways
- Home framing is entirely viable for standard size Vuillard reproductions.
- Ready made frames with mats run about $40 to $90 versus $150 or more for custom work.
- Never let the print touch the glass, and insist on acid free mats either way.
- The hybrid route, a stock frame with a professionally cut mat, is where most budgets should land.
Related questions
Will a mat help or hurt a Vuillard interior scene?
A mat helps. Vuillard's compositions are dense and warm, and a wide neutral mat in off white or warm grey gives the eye a place to rest and keeps the paper off the glass. A very narrow mat can make the busy patterns feel cramped, so lean toward a mat width of two inches or more.
What size frame should I buy for a standard Vuillard print?
Check the listed image size first, since prints are often sold with a border. A common reproduction around 16 by 20 inches fits a stock frame of the same dimension, but the mat window must match the image, not the frame. If the dimensions are unusual, buy the frame and have a mat cut to fit.
Is it risky to frame a valuable Vuillard print myself?
If the print is genuinely valuable, an original lithograph rather than a reproduction, the risk is real. DIY mistakes such as acidic mats, glass contact or trimming the sheet can permanently reduce value. For anything with meaningful market value, conservation framing by a professional is the defensible choice, and it is a different market from reproduction editions.
From the Auvrique collection
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Editions are made to order and shipped worldwide. Choose a format and a size, and the price you see is the price you pay.
View the collectionGeneral art-historical background drawn from public museum records and standard reference literature. Pricing reflects Auvrique editions and is indicative only.