Paul KLEE
1879–1940, Switzerland

Oil on canvas, Abstract Composition, signed "Klee", 65x54 cm. On the back of the canvas written with thin felt pen in red "Lebensgefährtin 1938" and Paul Klee. On the back of the frame at the bottom glued patch Cohn, Guggenheim & Co., Berlin. Certificate of authenticity: "This is to certify that on the reverse photograph depicted by me studied oil painting on canvas (65x54 cm Lebensgefährtin 1938), in my full conviction is a genuine work by Paul Klee. Helsinki, 18 October 1967, Bertil Hintze (signature) Professor". The painting is part of a major fraud seizures of counterfeit art in Sweden known as ”The Society of Art Friends”: Three men, aged 30, 37, and 40 years old, were caught in Stockholm, Sweden after a reconnaissance tip from police in Ängelholm, Sweden. Shortly afterwards, another two men were caught. In total, 48 house searches were made through out the nation from which 83 forged paintings were confiscated. Forged art had already been sold for millions of Swedish crowns. Victims of the gang were well known businessmen with considerable incomes. League had good help from educated art experts who have written certificate of authenticity to many of the fake paintings, often at very small remuneration. On a door to a flat in Stockholm the men had displayed a sign with the text “The Society of Art Friends”.

Oil on canvas, signed "Klee", ca. 27x34 cm. Ostensibly depicting a genuine painting by Paul Klee. The painting has been seized by police and after examination been assessed as a forgery.