Distinguishing Genuine Van Gogh Works from Imitations: A Growing Challenge
Determining the authenticity of a piece attributed to Van Gogh typically involves validation by the Van Gogh Museum. However, the museum is reconsidering its role due to legal challenges and a surge in verification requests.
Stuart Pivar, a 94-year-old chemical engineer from New York, has been an art and antique collector since childhood. His collection includes around 300 items, featuring a self-portrait by Andy Warhol and works by artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jackson Pollock, and Edgar Degas. Pivar believes he owns an overlooked Van Gogh masterpiece, a landscape titled “Auvers, 1890,” signed “Vincent” on the reverse.
However, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which holds the most extensive collection of the artist's works, disagrees. The museum's experts, who meticulously study Van Gogh's life and creations, did not authenticate Pivar's painting. In 2021, they sent him a detailed letter explaining their reasons for not recognizing the piece as genuine. In response, Pivar filed a $300 million lawsuit in U.S. District Court, claiming the museum's decision was negligent and significantly devalued the painting.
The museum has faced increased legal and inquiry-related expenses, particularly during the pandemic, as many individuals believed they had discovered original Van Gogh pieces in various unexpected places. This situation has led the museum to become more cautious about authentication requests. Without the museum's endorsement, major auction houses like Christie’s or Sotheby’s are unlikely to handle sales of works attributed to Van Gogh.