The Art of Forgery

What motivates an art forger? How easy are they to catch? And to what extent have AI and other technologies changed how we approach matters of authenticity, derivation and forgery? In The Art of Forgery Noah Charney, celebrated art historian and the world's foremost art-crime specialist, explores the stories behind the most famous art forgeries in the world. Chronicling the adventures and misadventures of master forgers throughout history, the book examines how and why these artful tricksters – often ingenious, skilful, quirky and charming – succeeded in deceiving the art world and how they were eventually caught, through shrewd detective work, scientific examination or a good measure of luck. Illustrated in colour throughout, this new revised and expanded edition takes in recent developments in the realm of art and authenticity from NFTs (content, including artwork, in the form of digital files the ownership of which is written into the blockchain) to the rise of AI, with its ability to create, on command, unique new digital images of superlative quality, prompting questions about authorship, originality, and more.