Fake Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988) signature
Over the years, we’ve written numerous posts addressing the persisting issue of auction rooms and dealers selling fake artworks. Unfortunately, this problem shows no signs of abating. Almost every historical artist whose works we buy and sell has had inauthentic works appear on the market. Some of these were mere copies created by other artists aiming to grasp the master’s techniques, while others were produced with the intent to deceive unsuspecting buyers. Shockingly, there have been many cases where the art trade removed an artist’s signature from an authentic work and replaced it with another artist’s name, all in the pursuit of higher profits.
One might wonder why some auction rooms don’t contact experts to obtain informed opinions. The answer, in my view, is simple: they often seem indifferent to the authenticity of the works they sell. They adhere to the age-old principle of “caveat emptor,” meaning “let the buyer beware.”
It’s true that most experts charge for their assessments, but it’s important to recognize the significant investment of time, effort, and energy these individuals have dedicated to comprehensively understanding an artist’s career. Achieving the level of knowledge and discernment that they possess can take decades.
In the realm of art, we are recognized by many as the leading experts for several artists, including Daniel Ridgway Knight, Emile Munier, Julien Dupre, and Antoine Blanchard. Today, I am focusing on the latter artist, Antoine Blanchard (his real name was Marcel Masson).
In the early days, various dealers and auction houses consistently contacted us for our opinion on works attributed to this artist. These actions led us to dive deeper into the oeuvre of Antoine Blanchard and subsequently began creating a comprehensive catalog raisonné, which is accessible at www.antoineblanchard.org. Presently, all research and authentication matters are performed by Amy Rehs. Reputable auction rooms and discerning dealers recognize the value of obtaining an official opinion from her before offering a work for sale, even if a nominal fee is involved. Their confidence in the authenticity of the artworks they present justifies this investment.
However, we also encounter numerous smaller auction rooms and dealers who appear indifferent to this critical issue. Month after month, we observe a disheartening trend of counterfeit paintings being passed off as genuine works. It’s perplexing why this problem persists when there’s a straightforward solution – contacting us for our expertise.
I planned on listing a series of fake works recently sold by several of the smaller auction rooms throughout the US and Canada. After Lance read the post, he suggested I show it to an attorney, which I did. They told me that I could open the gallery to legal action from those firms and even the buyers. So, sadly, my list will need to stay private for now.
Please keep in mind that numerous more fakes are awaiting potential buyers. Ensuring that any prospective art acquisition comes from a source that has done the proper research and diligently verified its authenticity is essential. Additionally, it’s important to remember that, from an expert’s perspective, few things are more disheartening than informing someone that their cherished painting is not genuine.
As I have always said, the art world is a jungle; find the right guide before you become someone’s next meal.