When determining the value of artwork

Question

When determining the value of artwork, several online platforms provide automated estimations based on comparable pieces sold at recent auctions. The expertise of an art appraiser who has examined a specific piece in person, however, surpasses any digital valuation tool's accuracy. Why? Because unlike algorithmic assessments, professional appraisers evaluate subtle characteristics- including brushwork technique and emotional impact- factors that automated systems simply cannot properly quantify.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the art appraiser's argument?

A. In general, art appraisers who evaluate subtle characteristics such as brushwork technique and emotional impact assess artwork values far more accurately than other art appraisers do.

B.Most professional art appraisers routinely consider subtle characteristics such as brushwork technique and emotional impact when valuing artwork

C.By analyzing high-resolution digital imagery and historical auction data, automated valuation systems can effectively account for many subtle characteristics specific to individual artworks.

D.It is in an art seller's financial interest to have an appraiser determine the artwork's market value as accurately as possible

E.The recent auction prices of comparable artworks reflect subtle characteristics that affect the desirability of works within that artistic category.

Shreyaarora · Answer

Is the answer tagged wrong? I believe A would most strengthen the argument. 
E instead weakens it.

Since we are trying to strengthen the argument that the Art appraiser who examines in person provides more accurate valuation than automated systems by considering the brushwork, emotional impact. A is strongly supporting this claim since it proves that in general between appraisers as well- if there's an appraiser who's evaluating based on these characteristics would be more accurate than the one who isn't.

Shreyaarora · Answer

and it can't be B, since it just states the behavior of what appraisers usually & doesn't necessarily say that this would improve the accuracy.

vjhawar84 · Answer

I agree with you on this. The Answer should be A

abisheik35 · Answer

Answer choice A compares art appraisers with other art appraisers which is irrelevant to the context. So A out
Answer voice C weakens so out
Choice B with modifier “most” and words like “routine” raises suspicion.. since we don’t know about the routine nature of work of art appraisers.
Choice D talks about empaneling art appraiser depending on the needs of art sellers interest.So D out.
Why option E is best choice which strengthens bcoz it establishes the relation between art works price/desirability and its subtle characteristics.thus support appraisers argument.

GMATQuizMaster · Answer

Adding my bit,

This question seems to have some issues:

1. There is no "art appraiser's argument" to start with.

2. IMO, choice E weakens the author's conclusion instead of strengthening it. It suggests automated systems may already capture subtle characteristics through auction data and thus professional art appraiser's may not be more accurate.

3. Choice A seems to strengthen the author's conclusion. It demonstrates that appraisers who evaluate subtle characteristics (brushwork technique and emotional impact) are more accurate than other appraisers who don't focus on these factors. This strengthens the link between evaluating subtle characteristics and achieving accurate valuations.

Hope that helps!

Aakkashsingh · Answer

Facts:

1. Online platforms use recent price data at auctions to appraise similar artwork.  
 2. Art Appraiser > Any Online Platform. Reason: Humans can consider factors like brushwork and emotions invoked.  
 3. Automated systems CANNOT  PROPERLY QUANTIFY  such details.

Objective: Strengthen the appraiser's argument. Or put simply, strengthen the argument that human involvement is  always  better than online platforms.

A - The argument does not hinge on the comparison of the accuracy of appraisal  BETWEEN  art appraisers.   OOS. REJECT.

B - This does, in a way, strengthen the appraiser's argument. But the argument makes it clear that a professional    DOES    evaluate brushstrokes and emotions, so B is adding on to rather than bringing in new information.    REDUNDANT. REJECT.

C - Clear weakener because it is adding to the opposite of the art appraiser's argument.   REJECT.

D - Out of scope. Also, what if the art appraiser actually reduces the price of the artwork? No longer in the best interest.    REJECT.

E - The auction price data reflect     SOME  SUBTLE CHARACTERISTICS    ( We do not know which ones ) that    AFFECT THE DESIRABILITY    ( May be + or - ) of artworks    WITHIN THAT CATEGORY.    If this is true, then recent auction price data is influencing the landscape of that art category in a way which may NOT reflect the real human value of artwork from that category. Meaning that what we imagined as a poor methodology (using automation) negatively impacting a SINGLE artwork is ACTUALLY affecting an ENTIRE art category. This strengthens the SIGNIFICANCE of the NEED for human art appraisal.    CORRECT because it strengthens the case FOR art appraisers by magnifying the scope of the problem they intend to fix - Art appraisers are better than online platforms.

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

Requesting experts to kindly share the solution and their point of view

egmat · Answer

AbhishekP220108  In my opinion, the answer should be (A). Here's why:

First  , we need   to   identify the conclusion   and   the premise.

Conclusion    :  An   in  -  person art appraiser  's valuation is more accurate than any digital valuation tool'  s.
   Premise : Appraisers evaluate subtle characteristics (  like   brushwork   and   emotional impact) that automated systems cannot properly quantify.
 
  The Core Assumption (The Gap):    The argument makes a logical leap. It connects the action   of   evaluating subtle characteristics   with   the outcome   of   greater accuracy. But it never explicitly states that these subtle characteristics   are   actually important   for   determining the artwork  's true value.

The unstated assumption is:  The ability to evaluate subtle characteristics like brushwork is essential for, and directly contributes to, the accuracy of an artwork'   s valuation.
  
Why (A) is correct:    It directly confirms the unstated assumption by creating a strong link between the method (evaluating subtle characteristics) and the result (more accurate assessments). It shows that this specific skill is what makes an appraiser accurate.

Why (E) is incorrect : While (E) does provide this link as well and fill the gap for the main argument, it simultaneously weakens the whole argument too by providing more credibility to the digital tools. So, A becomes superior than this one as I have no reason to eliminate A.

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

Hi  egmat

Thanks for your reply.

Since this question is from egmat scholaranium only. But the problem is official answer mentioned on scholoranium is E. Can you please check once

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

Bunuel   bb  can you please help me in changing the answer to A.

Thanks

bb · Answer

Done. I have updated the OA to "A"

P.S. The question prompt seems to be slightly off in the since there is no Art Appraiser's argument - this would be more of "which of the following would strengthen the argument than an art appraiser is more precise than an automatic tool" though I think it is still clear which argument we are arguing for.

PTanjiro · Answer

A. In general, art appraisers who evaluate subtle characteristics such as brushwork technique and emotional impact assess artwork values far more accurately than other art appraisers do -  Correct. This statement strengthens the premise as well as conclusion by stating that the mentioned type of art appraisers are more accurate than other types.

B. Most professional art appraisers routinely consider subtle characteristics such as brushwork technique and emotional impact when valuing artwork - The main difference between A&B is we don't know whether such appraisers can accurately derive the price of art or not.

C. By analyzing high-resolution digital imagery and historical auction data, automated valuation systems can effectively account for many subtle characteristics specific to individual artworks - Weakens.

D. It is in an art seller's financial interest to have an appraiser determine the artwork's market value as accurately as possible - OOS.

E. The recent auction prices of comparable artworks reflect subtle characteristics that affect the desirability of works within that artistic category - Weakens. This states that the comparable pricing (pricing via online platforms) has already considered the mentioned characteristics which a professional appraiser considers. Thus Weaken.

When determining the value of artwork

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

When determining the value of artwork

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards