Mario Gutierrez, owner of Art Smart Coffee in Dunedin, FL has expressed a deep-seated belief that three, of the many Picasso artifacts he has collected over 18 years, are authentic pieces of art created by Picasso himself. The main one (above) would be the first example of Cubism in history. And would be worth as much as $100 million dollars if found to be from the hand of Picasso himself.
FROM MARIO:
“After 18 years of scouring estates, auctions, antique stores and the internet for Picasso vagabond books, posters, etc. I believe I may have been blessed by the discovery of 3 original Picasso paintings. All from the early years. Before the Blue or Rose periods. Before Picasso became famous. When his works of Classicalism, Impressionism and African art clashed and gave way to Cubism.
Picassos’ 1905 paintings of an African Fertility statue, the crown jewel of the Picasso Museum, is on display, along with the evidence that she may have been the first example of Cubism” – Mario Gutierrez
The challenge of authenticating artworks, especially those by prolific artists is difficult. Many famous artist foundations have disbanded their Authentication Committees based on an increasingly litigious environment.
(See Keith Haring: https://itsartlaw.org/2012/09/20/the-keith-haring-foundation-announces-its-decision-to-disband-authentication-committee/ .
The piece above, owned by Mario Gutierrez, may or may not be an authentic work by Picasso as claimed. Proving it poses a challenge. Picasso had a very prolific output over his lifetime, (some estimate over 150,000 including prints, drawings, paintings and ceramics.
How does one go about attempting to prove the authenticity of a piece of art, including the history/provenance, and trace the work back to the artist’s hand if possible.
Ashley Burke of Burke & Co, Fine Art Consultants, see ad on page 5, has provided a few initial steps one can take to begin the process.
Research Process
Step 1: Initial Image Search
• Use Google Lens or similar tools Identify if the work has been published or listed online. Look for stylistically similar works for visual comparison
Step 2: Back of the Painting
• Examine the back of the artwork:
– Look for stamps, gallery labels, or a handwritten note. These details can provide provenance clues or exhibition history.
• Analyze materials and construction:
– Type of canvas, wood stretcher, staples or nails, canvas edges. These may help estimate the work’s age and geographic origin.
Step 3: Catalogue Raisonné
• Use IFAR (International Foundation for Art Research) to locate the correct catalogue raisonné (https://www.ifar.org/cat_rais.php). The catalog author or foundation is typically the recognized expert. Determine whether the artwork appears in the catalogue or is consistent with documented works from the same period.
Step 4: General Visual
Comparison
• Compare the work to others from the same period. Use the catalogue raisonné, museum websites, and online databases. Consider composition, style, color palette, and subject matter.
• Look for verified examples of the artist’s signature from the same period (e.g., from askart website).
Step 5: Exhibition &
Archival Records
• Search for major exhibitions featuring the artist work during the same period. Look at exhibition catalogs or museum publications. A record of exhibition can support authenticity.
• Archives – The Picasso Museum in Barcelona and Paris holds his archives. There are photographic archives, these could also be useful. Also look at his writing and notes from the same period, is there any mention of experimenting with ideas of Cubism?
Search the online collection for 1905 to see if anything looks relevant: https://cep.museepicassoparis.fr
The bottom line for proving the authenticity of any piece of art is that without verifiable proof, there is no authentication. Yes, the above piece has the name “Picasso” on it. The paint has been dated to around 1905. The subject, style and colors may suggest a tie to the “African Period” that Picasso may not have wanted to necesssarily be associated with, keeping the piece out of the public eye.
The family of Picasso and two major auction houses have rejected this piece as authentic.
“Believing” that a work of art is authentic has a hard-stop without provenance or some other type of proof. Believing is different than knowing.
Is it possible that this is an authentic Picasso?
Yes, it’s possible…
—————–
Article contributor: Ashley Burke; Burke Fine Art Consultants – www.burkecofac.com
Art Smart Coffee:
1275 Bayshore Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698
(813) 205-7580
