“Art Hoaxes” unveils the captivating world of art forgery, a realm where deception and artistic skill intertwine. This true crime narrative explores how forgers exploit vulnerabilities within the art market, preying on collectors' desires and even fooling seasoned experts. Driven by motives ranging from greed to ego, these individuals manipulate historical context and perceived value to create convincing deceptions.
One intriguing aspect is the cat-and-mouse game between forgers adapting their methods and modern scientific analysis striving to unmask their creations. The book dissects the psychology of art fraud, examining the motivations of both the forgers and those they deceive. It highlights infamous cases like Han van Meegeren, who successfully forged “Vermeers,” and Elmyr de Hory, a prolific creator of fake masterpieces.
A key element in authenticating art is establishing provenance, but even this can be fabricated. By drawing upon court records, personal accounts, and scientific findings, “Art Hoaxes” provides a comprehensive understanding of this deceptive realm, progressing from introducing key players to dissecting specific case studies and exploring detection methods.
