Actually, this is a normal phenomenon. The biggest "customers" of contemporary painters and painters are art institutions, galleries and so on. If we compare them to "agents", then the "retail price" of "producers" cannot be lower than the cost of "agents". Sometimes, in order to ensure the interests of art institutions and galleries, if individuals buy works from painters, the price will be much higher and the completion time cannot be guaranteed.
Another reason is that almost all famous painters and calligraphers are valued by capital and commercialized today when capital enters the art market wantonly. At this time, the artist's direct asking price is often significantly higher than the market price. We should not only avoid interference, but also cooperate with "speculators" to drive up prices. Moreover, both parties often have written agreements or oral agreements.
So in order to collect paintings, you can buy them through other channels. For example, the auction market is a common marketing channel for the sale of calligraphy and painting, and many famous works are often auctioned. Compared with paintings and calligraphy obtained by other means, the works in the auction market are more precious, which can be known from the transaction amount. In other words, if you want to preserve the value of calligraphy and painting as a collection, the auction market is a marketing channel to obtain works, which can have a very good appreciation space.
Or galleries or antique shops, galleries will collect all kinds of works from all over the world and put them in stores for exhibition. The works purchased through the gallery are authentic, and even the counterfeiters will clearly point out that it can prevent the possibility of buying fakes. If you want to find more valuable works, galleries or antique shops are very good places.