Souvenirs
Art souvenirs from Prague that are not kitsch
Most of what is sold as "Prague art" in the Old Town is printed in bulk. A piece by a working artist costs more, though often less than people expect.
How to tell real from mass-produced
The shops on the main tourist routes, between the Old Town Square, Karlova street and Charles Bridge, sell many identical "paintings" of the same five views. A few checks separate them from the real thing:
- Look at the surface at an angle. Oil and acrylic paint stands up from the canvas in ridges and brushmarks. A printed canvas is flat, and any "brushstrokes" are a thin clear gel over the print.
- Look for the same picture twice. If the same view, in the same colours, hangs three shops along, it is a reproduction.
- Ask who painted it. A real gallery can tell you the artist's name, where they trained or exhibit, and usually show you other works by them. "A local artist" with no name is a warning sign.
- Ask for a receipt that names the work. A proper invoice lists the artist, title, technique and size. You will need it for customs, and it is your proof of authenticity later.
Originals, etchings, prints: what you are buying
| Type | What it is | Unique? |
|---|---|---|
| Original painting | Oil, acrylic, watercolour or tempera, painted by hand by the artist. | Yes, one of one |
| Drawing | Pencil, ink, pastel or charcoal on paper, by hand. | Yes |
| Etching, linocut, lithograph | The artist makes a plate or block and prints it by hand in a small numbered edition. Each sheet is signed and numbered, for example 12/40. | No, but each sheet is an original print made by the artist |
| Giclée or "art print" | A high-quality inkjet reproduction of a painting. Fine as decoration. A signature and a number make it a limited edition, not an original. | No |
| Canvas print | A photo of a painting printed on canvas, sometimes with added gel "brushstrokes". | No |
Hand-pulled etchings are the usual middle ground in Prague. The city has a long tradition of them. They are original works by the artist, they travel flat, and they cost a fraction of a painting.
What things cost
Prices vary with the artist's reputation, size and technique, so treat these as rough bands seen in Prague galleries in 2026, not rules:
- Small hand-pulled etchings and other original prints: from a few hundred to a few thousand Czech crowns (roughly €20–200). At Gallery Art 11, for example, small Prague etchings by Gennadij Alexandrov start at 400 CZK.
- Watercolours and drawings by working artists: usually from a few thousand crowns.
- Oil paintings by established artists: a small canvas from around 5,000 CZK; larger works commonly 20,000 to 100,000 CZK (about €800–4,000). Above that you are in collector territory, with auction houses and established galleries.
Prices in commercial galleries are usually fixed, but asking whether delivery or a frame is included is normal.
Where to look
Our list of galleries that sell original art is sorted by neighbourhood, with what each one sells. For a single afternoon, the Old Town art walk links several of them on foot. If you want to see the best Czech art before you buy, start with the museums and public galleries.
Getting it home
- Works on paper travel flat in a rigid folder in your cabin bag. Ask the gallery for a backing board.
- Small canvases can go in cabin luggage if they fit your airline's size limit. Ask for corner protectors and bubble wrap.
- Large or framed works are safer shipped. Many Prague galleries ship worldwide, some with delivery included; ask before you pay and get the insured value in writing.
- Glass in frames breaks. For flights, ask for acrylic glazing or carry the work unframed and frame it at home.
Customs, VAT refunds and export permits are covered in Buying art in Prague as a foreigner. For contemporary work by living artists, the paperwork is usually just the invoice.