Finnish art forgeries are typically clumsy copies
Art market expert expects increase in forged sculpture and design
By Jukka Yli-Lassila
Imagine if a family held in high esteem were to have as its prized heirloom a painting by Albert Edelfelt, keeping the genuine Edelfelt from one decade to another on the same place on the same wall.
After all, who would suspect the authenticity of an Edelfelt painting, especially if the painting has been in the family for decades.
"That is usually the way people think", ponders Pauliina Laitinen-Laiho, an art market expert, and author of the book Taideväärennökset ("Art Forgeries"), which was published this past week.
"All the more reason to check the authenticity of the work. If it has been in the same family for a long time, and there have been no actual changes of ownership, it is possible that the authenticity has never been checked."
"The name of the owner or collector is no guarantee", she points out.
So, take the painting down from the wall. What next?
"In the case of Edelfelt it is best to contact an expert who is familiar with the production of the artist. A suitable expert can be found through the Ateneum art museum, art auctions, or some art dealer."
There is no point in trying to establish authenticity on the basis of some tiny photo in a book on Edelfelt. The painting itself needs to be studied thoroughly, usually including a stylistic assessment based on art history.
If that is not enough to establish that a painting is genuine, a technical study is needed.
"If the painting really is an Edelfelt, all of this is definitely worthwhile, even if it is expensive", Laitinen-Laiho emphasises.
Albert Edelfelt has always been a favourite target of forgers. The reason is simple: an artist beloved by the multitudes, whose paintings sell well also fascinates forgers.
Well-known artists’ names also have their disadvantages.
"People are blinded by famous names. In such a case you can’t be too careful when making a purchase."
Nearly all of Edelfelt’s works have been carefully documented. A forger runs a considerable risk of getting caught.
"In spite of this, forgeries have been made even of those works by Edelfelt which are known to be on display in some museum."
According to Laitinen-Laiho, works of nearly all of the artists of the golden age of Finnish art have been forged. Artists of a slightly younger generation who are also popular among forgers include Eero Nelimarkka and Veikko Vionoja.
"Their works are much cheaper than those of the masters of the golden age. Both also have an extensive production. Works by both of them are available, but forgeries are still made, because their art is popular among the population at large."
As for the topics of the works, forgers seem to put their faith in the words of of Anton Chekhov, who said that what the public loves most in art is the banal and the familiar.
"In Finland, winter and nature motifs are the most common. Landscape paintings are also easier to forge than people’s faces or hands", Laitinen-Laiho says.
Typically Finnish forgeries are most often not copies of extremely rare valued paintings; more frequently, they are a either somewhat clumsy attempts, or else they are originals by some unknown painter, which is given the signature of a famous artist.
These kinds of paintings are then sold with great fanfare to people who are eager to buy a work by a famous artist.
"Some will even take a picture of a painting from a wall calendar, make a somewhat enlarged photocopy to get the brush strokes to stand out more, add a layer of varnish, and add a fancy frame. Often a pane of glass will be put on top to keep the buyer from actually touching the work.
Such clumsy attempts usually do not reach the important art auctions. Nevertheless, not even auctions are completely free of forged art.
Sometimes dealers will try to sell high-quality forgeries through auctions to bring the paintings publicity and credibility to claims of their authenticity.
Auction houses do not, as a matter of principle, reveal the names of dealers who put paintings up for sale.
"This reduces the suspicions of the buyer, because they cannot know of the seller has a shady reputation", Laitinen-Laiho points out.
"On the other hand, auction houses evaluate the authenticity of works for free, and will take them off display, if enough suspicions arise."
Many forgeries exchange hands in "good faith" - with both sides believing that the work is genuine. Well-planned top-quality forgeries are a different matter.
"To sell them, a forger needs a network of partners, as well as a top-notch international art dealer with good contacts."
Contemporary artists are usually left alone by forgers. The original painters usually do not have enough of a reputation, and the prices of their works have not risen enough.
Contemporary artists also usually know where their paintings have been placed.
The newest trends in forgery are in modern design and sculpture.
"In Finland it is hard to succeed with forged domestic design, because there is so much expertise in the field. Foreign buyers are in the most difficult position. Prices of Finnish design are going up abroad, which means that there will probably be more fakes as well."
So far most forged works of art in Finland have specifically been paintings. In addition to design, the proportion of sculpture could grow in the near future. Laitinen-Laiho says that there are signs of in different countries that this might be taking place.
"After the deaths of Kain Tapper and Eila Hiltunen, interest in Finnish modern sculpture is in the increase. Prices are starting to go up, and with it, it is likely that the number of forgeries of the works of these artists will also increase."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 21.11.2004
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 23.11.2004 - THIS WEEK |
 Finnish art forgeries are typically clumsy copies |
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