A recent investigation has brought to light a troubling reality in the art market, with numerous counterfeit paintings being discovered on the popular online platform eBay. Among these fakes are works attributed to renowned artists Monet and Renoir, raising concerns about the extent of the counterfeit art trade in the online marketplace. Dr. Carina Popovici, an expert in art authentication, utilized artificial intelligence technology to analyze the posted pictures and identify the counterfeits.
The AI algorithm employed by Dr. Popovici successfully detected several counterfeit paintings on eBay, suggesting that the problem may be much more widespread within the online art store. This ability to accurately identify fakes has raised concerns among scientists, who fear that technology may only scratch the surface of a much larger issue.
The counterfeit art discovered on eBay included items falsely attributed to authorized artists, including paintings claimed to be the work of Monet and Renoir. One such painting, titled “Forest With a Stream” and attributed to Monet, was listed for sale at a staggering price of $599,000. Another piece, identified as a “study of Claude” by Renoir, was priced at $165,000. Upon being alerted to the situation, eBay promptly removed the Renoir painting from its platform. The seller claimed that they had no intention of selling fraudulent art.
In response to inquiries from the committee investigating the issue, eBay reassured the public of its commitment to combating the sale of counterfeit art. The company employs a range of measures, including AI technology, expert authentication, and various programs, to protect buyers from fraud.
One notable example in this field is the Swiss-based company Art Recognition, which has collaborated with Liverpool University and Tilburg University to develop groundbreaking technology. According to Herlin, a representative of Art Recognition, “the AI not only analyzes different patterns but can also analyze the color palettes used by artists.” This innovative capability allows the platform, which has already analyzed over 500 compositions, to assist in attributing art and even challenging established opinions. For instance, with the aid of this technology, experts collaborated with an auction house to contest the authenticity of a self-portrait by van Gogh and a drawing by Rubens. This technological advancement facilitates greater transparency in the art world.
