PAINTING? OR PRINT? w/ABA FILMS STICKER ON BACK?

Can someone tell me if this is a painting or a print without me having t take it apart?
Also, what does the ABA FILMS Cemi(?) mean on the back? - I had what I thought was a painting until I took it apart & found it was a print - and a rental print at that! It had something t the effect of: Please return by truck when lease/rental is finished - stamped on the back. If I remember it was from the 1950s & for some reason this reminds me of that.
I appreciate any help

 

ABA film is a chain of photographic studios in Brazil.

 

This looks to me like a real painting. If you look you will see the edges of the canvas have brush strokes. As it was painted by an artist. If the lines are straight that is a print better known as a giclee. I hope this helps.

 

My guess is it's a hand tinted black and white photo.

 

Get a close look with a magnifying glass or loupe (don't need to take it apart to do that). It should be pretty obvious whether it is a print or an original work.

 

Given the significant amount of foxing on the back panel it would be a good idea to remove it from the frame.

 

I removed it - it's a photograph with the Aba Film raised on one corner like they used a document seal on it! Any reason they'd do this?
I will say the photograph is so good it looks like a painting! (and there are no pixels)
Any thoughts? Is this a special photograph or something?
Thanks for any help.

 

I'm surprised their hats aren't falling off!

Very nice--

 

A blind stamp might be proof of ownership, or a certificate of authenticity, impossible to remove without damaging the print.

Maybe it was a salesman's sample, not intended for sale itself.

 

Just a note on prints vs. paintings; not really relevant to the current discussion, because others have covered this one quite well.
But it is often suggested that one look for dots to determine if one has a print or an original, with the thought that originals don't have dots.
I thought I'd mention that prints produced by lithography don't have dots; reputable print-makers will show the edition number at the bottom (like 29/150 for example) but one will also find unlimited editions, even from reputable printers and artists. Because of the lack of dots, it can be surprisingly difficult to tell if the item is an original painting or a non-limited lithographic print.

 

Non-limited = open edition

 

just sayin.....