Art or Artifacts?
When the term modern art was coined in the early 20th century, it was meant to be derogatory. The word has since changed its meaning, but it is still frequently used to describe objects that were created in the mid-1900s through the early 1970s. And while these pieces are often considered some of the most valuable artwork on the market today, they can also be some of the most difficult to authenticate.
The following is meant to help you determine whether a piece of mid-century modern artwork is authentic or not. It should be noted that there are many resources available for anyone interested in learning more about mid-century modern art and its history, including websites, books and auctions.
Any piece of artwork worth purchasing should come with detailed information about when it was made and by whom. Here are some bits of advice for what to look for:
1. Look at the materials.
Mid century artists used a variety of materials to create their works. Some materials that would appear on a piece may include metal, glass, plastic and wood, among others. Most pieces will have an object suspended from them to add visual interest and perspective; this object may be metal or plastic as well. There should never be any bubbles or stains
I am a collector of mid century modern art. I have some pieces that are worth thousands of dollars and others that are worth only hundreds. I’ve always been impressed with the beautiful lines, shapes and colors of these pieces, but I’ve never known much about the artists or how to recognize fakes. So when my husband (an avid collector) asked me if I wanted to write an article on this topic, I jumped at the chance to learn more about this subject.
I didn’t know much about art before we married, so he taught me a lot of things about art and styles of different time periods. He showed me how to recognize the artist’s style and signature, but also how to look for things that might make the piece worth more money or be a sign that it is a fake. He was very patient with me as I asked him lots of questions along the way!
The process is not difficult once you know what to look for; hopefully this article helps you do just that!**
Mid century modern art is an interesting genre. The designs are unique and creative, with a wonderful mix of colors and shapes. The most common complaints about the pieces are either that they aren’t signed or that they don’t have a label of authenticity.
This can create a bit of confusion when you decide to purchase the piece. If it isn’t signed or labeled how will you know if it’s real?
It’s important to note that mid century modern pieces are not signed in a normal way, with a stamp or signature. It was very common for artists to sign their work by painting an original design on the back. This form of signature is highly collectible, as it is quite rare for any artist. An authentic mid century modern piece will have this type of signature on the back.
A few other things to look for when purchasing are:
-The surface area of the piece should be equal throughout, like if the art was painted on an easel, the edges would be straight. If there is damage it should be consistent throughout and not just limited to a corner or edge.
-The paint should be even and well applied throughout the entire piece. There shouldn’t be brush strokes that look like they were done by a beginner artist or fresh out
Over the years, I’ve acquired quite a few mid century modern pieces of art and design. And if you are an avid shopper on ebay and craigslist, you may have noticed that there’s a lot of fakes out there.
We’ve all been fooled by those ebay sellers who seem to have a warehouse full of copies of those classic chairs and lamps. The problem is that sometimes it’s just not evident from the photos whether or not something is real. And even if it is, there’s always the risk you’ll be outbid at the last minute.
Trying to tell if something is real or fake isn’t as easy as you might think. If you’re looking for a coffee table by Eames, Nelson or Bertoia, for example, it’s easy to spot from the distinctive shape and legs material that it’s an authentic piece. But if you’re looking at something more contemporary or less well known, like a Saarinen Womb chair (pictured here) then it can be harder to tell if it’s real or fake.
A work of art is an artifact, not a thing. It’s something a person or group creates, which then takes on an existence and identity of its own. The creator never stops being part of that story, but over time the emphasis changes. The beginning (or the end if it’s been destroyed) is dominated by the question, “What do you think this is?” Mid century modern and contemporary art are less about what they are than what they mean.
Midcentury modern has become so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget how new it really was. In fact, it was so new that it wasn’t yet called midcentury modern. It wasn’t even called art; at first it was just design, and then later furniture and architecture and all the other things designers make. Midcentury modern didn’t become a style until after World War II was over, which makes sense if you consider all the other things people might have chosen for their postwar lives: prosperity and a rise in standard of living all around; optimism about technology; an increased focus on leisure and entertainment as opposed to work; an embrace of globalization; a fascination with the future — with science fiction, space travel, nuclear energy, time travel — everything that’s summed up today by the word “fut
Many people prefer modern art. For example, I prefer the paintings of Jackson Pollock to the paintings of Thomas Kinkade. But one thing I’m pretty sure about is that I don’t like modern art when it’s a forgery.
Art forgery is a serious crime. It robs collectors, who pay a lot of money for something that turns out to be worthless. It robs museums and galleries, which are forced to return fakes to their sellers as soon as they realize they’re fakes, whether they have been sold or not. And it robs artists, who depend on the income from their work to survive.
But it’s surprisingly easy to tell if a painting is a fake or not—if you know what you’re looking for. And there are some clues that are more reliable than others.
In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, art became more abstract. Artists wanted to express themselves in ways that were not connected to the outside world. They wanted their work to be pure and devoid of any meaning.
The American artist Jackson Pollock was one of the main figures associated with this movement. He created his art on canvas by throwing paint from a can onto a canvas placed on the floor. His paintings were splattered, dripped, and poured in what was called action painting.
Towards the end of the 20th century, artists began to explore new ways of making art. One type of artwork that gained popularity was Mid Century Modern Art. The name “Mid Century Modern” came from when this type of art was made: between 1950 and 1970. Mid Century Modern Art is also known as pop art or “artificial” art.
This type of artwork was very popular during the 1960’s and 1970’s because it reflected society at that time. Pop Art was also a good way for artists to express themselves; they didn’t have to worry about representing anything in nature or reality.”**