Operation ‘Dora Maar’ Ends Multi-Million Dollar Counterfeit Art Ring in Germany.

‘Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild’ by Rembrandt, 1662

German Police officials report they have ended and captured the leaders and accomplices of a multi-million dollar counterfeit art ring. This ring of forgers are reported to have traded and sold several inauthentic artworks by Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo - the world’s most famed artists. A 77 year-old man, remaining unnamed, is the suspected group leader and it is believed he was helped by 10 other individuals. The arrest came after this leader tried to sell two inauthentic Pablo Picasso works of legendary muse and one of the most recognizable faces in art, Dora Maar. Original pieces featuring Dora Maar by Picasso reach the $30,000,000 price range at auctions - certainly the leader didn’t think this would be an easy sale.

Searches for the culprits spanned across Germany in several cities such as Schwandorf, Erlangen, Wissen, Dresden, Munich, Bad Harzburg, Stuttgart, and Berlin. Forgers were also caught in Switzerland and Lichtenstein. The main suspect is also accused of trying to flip an inauthentic ‘Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild’ by Rembrandt for over $150,000,000. It is claimed he received the faulted art from an 84 year old Swiss woman who is also now under investigation. Other artworks reported in this false collection included pieces from Anthony van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Amedeo Modigliani, and Joan Miro. This forger’s asking price for the works - between $460,000 and $16,000,000. People who conduct inauthentic work such as this truly damage the art market. It ruins trust among sellers and collectors and deceives art enthusiast as they believe they are looking at original work. No one should be in illegitimate dealings of famed art as it is the only true and authentic representation of the world we produce. Thankfully German Police have captured this leader and ended this vile ring of counterfeit art.

Portrait of Dora Maar, Pablo Picasso