How Russian Art Is Counterfeited in Europe

Auction giants Sotheby's and Christie's have declined to conduct auctions for Russian art. However, their absence in the Russian art market has been filled by galleries and online auction platforms. The most prized pieces are quickly being snapped up, indicating a significant scarcity of Russian artworks. This gap has led to a surge in black market activity, drawing in interest from the diaspora. The yearly market value of counterfeit artworks moving between Russia and Europe could surpass 300 billion euros.

What works are most often counterfeited?

The Jack of Diamonds

The Jack of Diamonds (Russian: Бубновый валет, Bubnovy Valet) was a prominent and influential Russian artistic association and avant-garde group of artists that emerged in Moscow before the First World War. It was founded in 1910 and remained active until approximately 1917. The group played a crucial role in the development of Russian avant-garde art during the early 20th century, introducing and promoting new artistic ideas and approaches that were radically different from the traditional and academic art styles prevalent in Russia at the time.

Members of the Jack of Diamonds group were known for their interest in and incorporation of elements from various sources, including European avant-garde movements such as Cubism and Futurism, as well as Russian folk art and primitive art forms. They sought to break away from the conventions of the past and were characterized by their bold use of color, dynamic compositions, and the simplification of forms.

The Jack of Diamonds organized several exhibitions that were met with both enthusiasm and controversy. Their exhibitions not only showcased the works of its members but also featured works by other avant-garde artists from Russia and Europe, thus fostering an exchange of ideas and influencing the direction of Russian art.

After the 1917 Russian Revolution, the artistic landscape in Russia underwent significant changes, leading to the dissolution of many independent art groups, including the Jack of Diamonds. Despite its relatively short existence, the group's impact on Russian art was profound, paving the way for later avant-garde movements and contributing to the development of modernist Russian art.

Russian artists of the first wave of emigration

The first wave of Russian emigration, which occurred in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Russian Civil War, led to the departure of a significant number of intellectuals, artists, and writers from Russia. This period, spanning roughly from 1917 to the early 1930s, saw a dispersal of Russian talent across Europe, North America, and other parts of the world. Many of these emigres continued their creative endeavors, influencing the cultural landscapes of their host countries and contributing to the global arts scene.

Russian artists of the second wave of emigration

The second wave of Russian emigration, which occurred after World War II, around 1943 to the late 1940s, was significantly different from the first wave that followed the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. This wave was primarily composed of individuals who fled the Soviet Union during or after the war, including those who had been prisoners of war, forced laborers in Germany, or collaborators with the Nazi regime, as well as civilians seeking to escape the repressions of the Stalinist regime.

How does the black market work?

1. An artwork by an anonymous creator is acquired in Europe and then transported to Russia. To falsely attribute it to a renowned artist, counterfeit documents and fabricated exhibition catalogues for shows that never occurred are utilized to establish its history.
2. Similarly, an artwork by an unidentified artist bought in Russia is taken to Europe. Counterfeit paperwork and invented catalogues for non-existent shows are employed to fabricate its history. In these instances, the forgers sometimes succeed in misleading staff members of museums.
3. Occasionally, private or provincial museums accept artworks from private collectors for their exhibitions in exchange for sponsorship money, deliberately avoiding rigorous checks of the artwork's history and bypassing detailed inspections. This practice is more prevalent in Europe. Following such exhibitions, these counterfeit artworks are then taken out of Europe and marketed in Russia with the claim that they were displayed in a museum.
4. An artwork from the late 19th to early 20th century, created by an unidentified artist, is illicitly transported across national borders. Subsequently, the signature of a renowned artist is falsely added to it.

How to avoid falling for scammers' tricks?

1. Don't skimp on experts. They will check the bibliography and invite translators if necessary.
2. Do not skimp on technical and technological expertise. It is expensive. But such expertise will help determine the period of creation of the work with an accuracy of up to a decade, as well as the period of the signature.
3. Invite experts from all countries where the artist you are interested in lived and worked. They will help determine whether the information about a work of art is real or fictitious.
4. Please contact museum management to verify facts. It may turn out that a particular work was not included in the museum exhibition, and you were shown a fake catalogue, hastily printed on a digital printer.

Why can an art appraisal cost more than the work of art itself?

A widespread misunderstanding is that the cost of an artwork encompasses the expertise involved in its creation. The value of the piece increases with the reliability of this expertise.

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