[walnutclosefarm]

What you say about supposed watershed moments is true, but I don't think it leads to the conclusion you want it to.

As someone who designs and makes fine furniture (not the way I make my living, but I do know the business), I know that there will likely always be some demand for custom, hand made pieces, because people assign value both to getting exactly what they want, and to the fact that something is human and hand made. When people who value those things have enough money, they'll spring for that value. But I'm well aware that the bespoke and hand made will never be more than a 3rd decimal place rounding error in the ocean of factory made furniture that fills our homes and workspaces. Images can go the same way, and will, if the price differential is right. Most images in the "image marketplace" are not art, after all, but rather anonymous commodity visuals augmenting the presentation of an idea, or product.