I think i can paint anything, says wolfgang beltracchi, the infamous german art forger, in arne birkenstocks 2014 documentary beltracchi. Art dealers are the worst and most foolish people in the art game and it is a game. The range of forgeries extends from misrepresentation of a genuine work of art to the outright counterfeiting of a work or style of an artist. Wolfgang beltracchi born wolfgang fischer on 4 february 1951 is a german art forger and artist who has admitted to forging hundreds of paintings in an international art scam netting millions of euros. They would be perfect as the leads in a bigscreen depiction of smirking charlatan wolfgang beltracchi and his striking wife, helene, who are the subjects of the documentary beltracchi. Beltracchi is the focus of german director arne birkenstocks provocative new documentary beltracchi. The art of forgery 2014 the life and work of wolfgang beltracchi, a master forger whose work fooled the international art world for 40 years. Beltracchi the art of the forgery 2014 alternate ending. The art of forgery is a documentary film about wolfgang beltracchi and the biggest art forgery scandal in post war germany, 90 min. He may be egotistical and nihilistic, but his genius in undeniable. For nearly 40 years the charming and effervescent beltracchi. Beltracchi the art of forgery 2014 how a single man made millions by faking and imitating some of historys greatest painters. The art of forgery attempts to make its titular character, convicted art forger wolfgang beltracchi, a kind of folk hero.
The minds, motives and methods of the master forgers explores the stories, dramas and human intrigues surrounding the worlds most famous forgeries investigating the motivations of the artists and criminals who have faked great works of art, and in doing so conned the public and the art establishment alike. He is still painting continuously in his studio in montpellier, in the south of france. With wolfgang beltracchi, helene beltracchi, henrik hanstein, james roundell. A mesmerizing, thoughtprovoking yet surprisingly amusing documentary on the life and times of wolfgang beltracchi, who tricked the international art world for nearly 40 years by forging and selling paintings of early 20thcentury masters. Sure, hes a con man who swindled the art world out of.
A notquitegreat documentary about the greatest art forger of our time. In 2011, beltracchi was sentenced to six years in prison. Set in a sunlit country of shiny, happy people, director frauke. Released by urmusic in 2015 containing music from beltracchi. Wolfgang beltracchi is a german art forger and artist who has admitted to forging hundreds of. The art of forgery full movie in hd visit wolfgang beltracchi got away with forging art masterpie. Wolfgang beltracchi, born wolfgang fischer, was not always a longhaired man who looked like he rolled around at woodstock. Artist and master forger wolfgang beltracchi is profiled, with insights into his life, talent and the. Watch beltracchi the art of forgery online vimeo on demand. A documentary was released earlier this year describing beltracchis conman adventure, unveiling the.
August 19 september 1 2 weeks beltracchi the art of forgery written and directed by arne birkenstock germany 2014 93 mins. Wolfgang beltracchi, the worlds most famous art forger. Needless to say, when exposed, beltracchis antics sent shockwaves through the art world, destroying the reputations of numerous experts in the process. Gallery finished pictures for sale acrylic and photo on canvas 200 cm x cm or cm x 200 cm. Forger wolfgang beltracchis latest antics artnet news. A largerthanlife personality who was responsible for the biggest art forgery. Art forger wolfgang beltracchi and his wife helene arrive for the screening of the film beltracchi the art of forgery in cologne, germany. The life and work of wolfgang beltracchi, a master painting forger. A notquitegreat documentary about the greatest art.
This documentary is perfect at showing not only the extreme talent of wolfgang but the absolute foolishness of the art market. To some, the german master forger is a genius, but to others hes the most infamous criminal in art history. Wolfgang went onto art school in aachen to pursue this lifelong passion. This thoughtprovoking and amusing documentary focuses on the life and work of wolfgang beltracchi and his wife, helene, who for nearly four decades fooled the international art world with the biggest forgery scandal of the postwar era. Master forger making millions since going legit artnet news. In german with english subtitles kimstim 60 minutes called wolfgang beltracchi a con man of epic proportions and dubbed him and his wife helene, the bonnie and clyde of the art world. The documentary beltracchi the art of forgery opens wednesday. This was after a 40day trial ending in guilty for beltracchi who was then sentenced to six years in a german prison. Request pdf the analytical results of a group of beltracchi forgeries and. Forgery, in art, a work of literature, painting, sculpture, or objet dart that purports to be the work of someone other than its true maker. An expert in art history, theory and painting techniques, he tracked down the gaps in the oeuvres of great artists max ernst, fernand leger, heinrich campendonk, andre derain and max. For nearly 40 years, wolfgang beltracchi fooled the international art world and was responsible for the biggest art forgery scandal of the postwar era. The beltracchi affair posted on december 29, 2014 by editor my art is everywhere, in many museums wolfgang beltracchi laughs in his interview video with cbs last february. An expert in art history, theory and painting techniques, beltracchi created original works in the style of such masters as max ernst, heinrich campendonk, and max pechstein, to not only fill in.
As the emphasis in this documentary will show, once people want to believe something is real, the rest is easy. The analytical results of a group of beltracchi forgeries and some. This is a dvd in this sequel to the cult clasic zeiram, the beautiful bounty hunter iria once again finds her way to earth. Get your team aligned with all the tools you need on one secure, reliable video platform. Beltracchi the art of forgery 2014 how a single man. Henning kaiser dpaalamy live news dw28ka from alamys library of. Not only could wolfgang beltracchi paint, but he could paint like a master. Beltracchi the art of forgery full movie video dailymotion.
This documentary follows his last days as a free man. He managed to fool gallery owners, historians and investors with the stroke of a brush. An expert in art history, theory and painting techniques, beltracchi created original works in the style of such. Wolfgang beltracchi and the biggest art scandal guardian. The art of forgery film unbeknown to her, the reseach team that built the combat android couldnt find a tactical program with enough cunning or fighting instinct to be useful. This freespirited german couple made headlines in 2010 after being arrested for pulling off one of the biggest art hoaxes in modern. Today, we do know some paintings that are recognized as products of wolfgang beltracchi.
Few people in the art world polarize opinion quite like wolfgang beltracchi. Beltracchi is an agreeable raconteur, and is much more knowledgeable than a mere armchair art historian, beltracchi. Februar 1951 als wolfgang fischer in hoxter ist ein deutscher maler. Beltracchi, together with his wife helene, sold forgeries of alleged works by famous artists, including max ernst, heinrich campendonk, fernand leger and kees van dongen. The art of forgery is a case in which a great documentary topic. Wolfgang beltracchi got away with forging art masterpieces for over 40 years. If you liked catch me if you can you will like this on netflix trailer trailer. A notquitegreat documentary about the greatest art forger of our. Wolfgang beltracchi, the ultimate risktaker, pulled off the biggest artforgery scandal of the past 100 years.
The art of forgery, fooled the art world for decades with his imitations of artists such as picasso and. Wolfgang beltracchi fooled the experts for decades in an art scam that netted him and his partners millions of dollars. Portrait of the artist as a conman paraic obrien correspondent until he was exposed by using an incorrect pigment, wolfgang beltracchi was the worlds most successful art forger. The art of forgery is a 2014 documentary biographical crime fiction film written and directed by arne birkenstock. Beltracchi the art of forgeryfinsterworld fandango. Master forger wolfgang beltracchi has the press aflutter with a new documentary, two books, and a slew of new paintings hes offering for sale. Beltracchi the art of forgery subtitled trailer german. Wolfgang beltracchi was found guilty and charged with forgery and corruption related. Remember wolfgang beltracchi, a german prodigy, who is considered to be the greatest art forger of our time, perhaps of all times, by some. Art forgery and the stories surrounding it, just as stories of the greatest of artists, might have an almost romantic appeal to wide audiences. The beltracchis ernst, braque, leger and others turned out excellently, and they were largely accepted as long lost treasures in the evereager art world. He duped art experts for years in an art scandal that earned him, his wife helene, and two associates millions of dollars. The con artist he could paint with the best of them.