Karel APPEL
1921–2006, Netherlands/Switzerland
Silkscreen, signed Appel, numbered E.A. and dated -70, 75x54 cm, The owner of this painting contacted one of the major auction houses in Stockholm in order to get the painting valued and sold. The auction house did not accept the painting when they suspect that it did not seem real. The owner then contacted one of the smaller auction houses in Stockholm, they accept the painting but becomes suspicious about its authenticity and contacted the police who took the painting seized for further investigation. The district court's decision: The painting is a forgery..
Oil on paper mounted on canvas, signed Appel -64, 56x77 cm. The signature has probably photographed and then used as a model for the forgery. The performance of the signature is amateurish done, jerky and hesitant. The letter p has been improved on by complications rehabilitation and the writing lacks floating "lat.ductus" which is so typical of Karel Appel way to sign. The district court's assessment: The painting is not done by Karel Appel, nor signed by him. It is a counterfeit.