The public often sees the art world as the domain of wealth, trendsetters, and high rollers, yet deception wealth, trendsetters, and high rollers, yet deception lurks behind the façade. After weapons and drugs, artis the third most lucrative illicit trade, with reports suggesting that more than half of artworks are fake or misattributed. In this course, we will ask: When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? Does a collector hold true title, and how important is provenance? What can science tell us about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity, gallery closings, and master forgeries.
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YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Christine Maasdam
Christine Maasdam holds a master’s in humanities and abachelor’s in cultural geography. Maasdam studied art at TheCourtauld Institute, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, andthe University of Glasgow. She trained in art crime investigationand is a member of the International Foundation for CulturalProperty Protection. She holds Sotheby’s certifications in art lawand appraisal, serves as a museum education docent, and hasvolunteered on archaeological projects in Israel.