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The buying and selling of art typically makes one think of an auction house, a gallery, or some other traditional brick and mortar means of transacting business. Those means still do dominate the art market in terms of transacting an enormous amount of business. Despite the recession, worldwide auction sales of art almost amounted to a staggering $80 billion in 2011 (Skates 3). Of this amount, $10 billion is sold by way of auction - three times the amount sold in 2000 (Artprice 7). Needless to say, in terms of dollars, the art market is big - very big. But even bigger, is the total sales of all goods made over the Internet. The United States Commerce Department reported that in 2010 alone, online shoppers electronically purchased over $160 billion worth of goods. While there is no specific published data on the amount of money spent buying art online, it comes as no surprise that a lot of people are buying and selling art by "point and click" over the internet. While transacting art online has had its ups and downs, and is not without concerns, such as authenticity, it nonetheless remains a major dynamic of the art market. In this wiki page, I will detail and analyze the business of buying and selling art online and its major players. I will also discuss the concern over authenticity (fakes / forgeries) that is an issue in the art world, particularly when it comes to buying artwork over the internet. An analysis of the tangible aspect of art and its effect on internet purchases will also be made. Finally, I will conclude this wiki by discussing and offering an answer as to whether the auction houses and galleries are doomed because of the Internet.
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