Most Forged Artists by Category

Why certain names attract forgers — and how collectors get trapped

A risk-intelligence report by FAE.LLC

Forgery in the art market is not random. Forgers do not target artists because they love them — they target artists because the market structure allows it.

High demand, inconsistent documentation, stylistic variability, weak authentication frameworks, and emotional buying environments all create ideal conditions for fraud.

At FAE.LLC, we analyze forgery not emotionally, but structurally. Below is a clear breakdown of the most forged artists by category, and why they are so frequently exploited.

I. Old Masters (15th–18th Century)

Why Old Masters Are Forged

• No living artist

• Workshop systems blur authorship

• Attribution language is elastic (circle of, follower of, school of)

• Heavy restorations mask original paint

Frequently Forged Names

• Rembrandt – workshop confusion, endless copies

• Frans Hals – brushwork imitated, panels altered

• Van Dyck – studio production mixed with autograph works

• Caravaggio (followers) – dramatic style easy to emulate

Primary risk: attribution inflation rather than outright fake materials.

II. 19th-Century Masters

Why This Category Is Dangerous

• Romantic subjects sell easily

• Academic training allows skilled imitation

• Canvas, pigments, and supports are easy to source

Frequently Forged Names

• Ivan Aivazovsky – one of the most forged painters worldwide

• Camille Corot – more fake Corots than authentic ones historically recorded

• Rosa Bonheur – signatures added later

• Eugène Boudin – genuine studies with forged signatures

Primary risk: genuine period works upgraded by added signatures.

III. Modern Masters (1880–1945)

Why Forgers Love Modern Art

• High prices

• Strong brand recognition

• Limited but inconsistent documentation

Frequently Forged Names

• Pablo Picasso – drawings, ceramics, late works

• Amedeo Modigliani – stylistic simplicity exploited

• Chaïm Soutine – chaotic brushwork hides inconsistencies

• Fernand Léger – works on paper altered or fabricated

Primary risk: stylistic plausibility without historical coherence.

IV. Post-War & Contemporary Blue Chips

Why Contemporary Art Is Not Safe

• Certificates replace scholarship

• Studios outsource production

• Foundations refuse opinions due to legal risk

Frequently Forged Names

• Jean-Michel Basquiat – fabricated provenance, fake COAs

• Andy Warhol – prints, signatures, late studio works

• Mark Rothko – color-field imitations with false histories

• Jackson Pollock – drip-style deception

Primary risk: documentation forgery rather than visual forgery.

V. African & Tribal Art

Why African Art Is Structurally Fragile

• Anonymous creators

• Oral provenance

• No signatures or dates

High-Risk Areas

• Fang, Kota, Dogon, Baule objects

• Masks and figures “collected before 1950” without proof

Primary risk: aged reproductions accepted as historical works.

VI. Works on Paper (Across All Periods)

Why Paper Is a Forger’s Favorite Medium

• Easy to manipulate

• Difficult to test conclusively

• Lower buyer resistance

High-Risk Artists

• Picasso (drawings)

• Matisse (gouaches)

• Schiele (drawings)

• Klimt (studies)

Primary risk: later additions and fabricated sheets.

VII. The Most Dangerous Belief

“If it looks right, it must be right.”

Forgery succeeds not because buyers are stupid — but because markets reward speed, confidence, and narrative.

Final Perspective from FAE.LLC

Forged art does not circulate because experts fail.

It circulates because:

• Buyers want certainty

• Sellers want liquidity

• Institutions avoid liability

Forgery lives in the space between desire and verification.

At FAE.LLC, we do not promise certainty — we identify risk before capital is committed.

Before You Buy

If an artist appears on this list, independent review is not optional.

One call before you buy can prevent a permanent mistake.

Visit www.fae.llc