Amazon Reviewers Have a Few Thoughts About That Monet

The day after Amazon unveiled its new fine art marketplace, the online retailer was finding that its customers are as willing to offer their opinions on a $1.45 million oil painting by the Impressionist master Claude Monet as they are of the $2.69 Hutzler 571 banana slicer.

“Is there a Kindle edition available,” asked one reviewer of Monet’s 1868 portrait of his daughter Jean. “Pros” include “Looks good above my toilet” and “Fast shipping,” another wrote. “Cons: Frame and painting looked used.”

“I think I’m going to touch this up a bit with some water colors I have laying around,” the reviewer added. “Make the colors pop more.”

Erik Fairleigh, an Amazon spokesman, declined to say just how many of the site’s visitors have actually bought anything since the company the site opened on Tuesday morning, but he said: “We are pleased with the early sales.”

He added:, “We are thrilled with the strong customer response to the new Fine Art store.” Could he be referring to a comment on another Monet, “Fragment de Nymphéas” for $2.5 million: “ The best part is that since I’m a prime member, I saved about 20 bucks on shipping.”

Or one on a Warhol screen print of a Campbell’s Golden Mushroom Soup can for just under $25,000, that directed other customers to the grocery section and noted: “This version is a much better price, and is delicious.”

Of course, the art marketplace still has a ways to go before it can match the more than 4,300 reviews that the banana slicer has elicited over six years, including those with practical advice: “Once I figured out I had to peel the banana before using - it works much better.”