Copyists, as their name suggests, are those people whose job is to " copy " any work, whether literary or artistic. In the Middle Ages, before the invention of the printing press, copyists were monks whose only mission was to reproduce books in monasteries. Today, copyists are either amateur or professional artists who reproduce a painting, famous or not, for study, entertainment or simply to make a profit.
In ancient times the work of copyists was of utmost importance; for art students, making a copy of a famous painter was a fundamental step in refining their technique and learning. Many artists known for their greatness and innovation started out as copyists of their predecessors, such as Matisse, Degas or Picasso.
And you... Are you an artist or a copyist?