Fake-believe canvases

As in every industry, the art world has its share of charlatans, a handful of people who can sometimes muddy the waters and give it a bad name and poor reputation. But you can’t dismiss a cart full of fruit because of one rotten apple. Financial institutions acknowledge that art is an asset class in its own right but are sometimes wary of pushing it to their HNI clients because they are not informed enough, or confident enough, of its intrinsic investable value. Yet, as we have seen, time and again, there are enough examples to show how a Rs 5,000 value painting has delivered Rs 20 crore several decades on. This columnist knows sufficient collectors who have seen their valuations soar as prices harden on grounds of rarity and provenance, among other esteemable qualities, not least of which is the excellence of the work itself.
 
One of the gravest concerns among collectors is the lack of a platform, or authority, to which one can turn should one want a work authenticated, or a dispute resolved. There is no gainsaying that as values of art have risen, so has the malarkey of faking. There is no more attractive proposition for fly-by-night dealers who don’t shy away from duping customers by peddling fakes. Unfortunately, few collectors are well versed in the complexities of recognising a genuine work from a fake, and fall for the lure of a “bargain”. But failing to have the work authenticated at the highest levels — by the artist, his estate, by experts (this, too, can open a can of worms), scholars (ditto), other gallerists and dealers — is taking a chance. But, just as you wouldn’t buy land, or property, without the appropriate due diligence, so too, paintings must not be bought at face value alone.
 
This means the work itself must be authenticated and provenances should be scrutinised through a magnifying lens. A provenance needs most of all to be proven. Dealers may want to protect their sources but can provide adequate proof of the veracity of their claims. Are there photographs of the work in the said person’s home? Documents? While such documentation may not have had a role in the past, evidence is somewhat easier to gather than harder. Does the history provided by the seller sound kosher? I believe too much information is as suspect as too little information in this regard.
 

Photo: istock

What it always boils down to is this — that bargains are to be distrusted even if it is a distress sale. Why would anyone sell a work of art at a fraction of its purpoted value? Auction houses can at least offer estimates of what a fair value for an artist should be. Unscrupulous dealers put immense pressure on potential buyers, tempting them to buy first and ask questions later. And this is not just in case of works that may not be authentic, but also in the case of works that are of poor quality.
 
It has always been the considered opinion of this columnist that collectors or investors should align their interests only with dealers of the highest reputation to protect their interests. The result is likely to be a higher outlay on their part, but in the long run, this is a small price to pay for ensuring the safety and authenticity of one’s purchase. Unfortunately, even those who have been duped rarely speak out, too embarrassed to admit that they have been taken for a ride. Unless the perpetrators of fraud are named and shamed, the growth of the art collectorati will remain too small to matter in the national discourse. 
 

Kishore Singh is a Delhi-based writer and art critic. These views are personal and do not reflect those of the organisation with which he is associated