Authenticity in the Art Market Undermined: Forgers, Christie's, Van Gogh Museum, and Old Master Works
Published on 4.5.25
The authenticity of artworks has become a growing concern in the art market as forgers capitalize on the popularity of certain genres, including Old Master works. The trend of assigning singular attribution to these artists can be misleading, as many Renaissance works were created by multiple hands.
A recent example is the failed auction of an Amrita Sher-Gil painting at Christie's in New York, which highlights the challenges of verifying authenticity. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has been at the forefront of art authentication, with a team of 20 experts analyzing an "orphaned artwork" that lacked a signature but featured lettering similar to van Gogh's writing style.
This study is part of a broader effort to verify the authenticity of artworks in the market. Nearly 200 paintings forged by John Drewe remain unidentified, with many potentially being sold as genuine Old Master works. The need for more robust authentication methods and greater transparency in the art market has been highlighted by curator John Varoli's admission that he was duped by a forger.
The disparity between authentic and forged artworks underscores the importance of rigorous verification processes to maintain the integrity of the art market.