Chaim SOUTINE
1893–1943, Belarus/France/Russia

Oil on canvas, 40x62 cm, signed "Soutine." Landscape Design with figures, apparently depicting a genuine painting by the famous Russian-French artist Chaim Soutine. The painting is part of a large police seizing called the "Society of Art friends". Background: Three men, 30, 37 and 40 years old was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden after an intelligence tip from police in Ängelholm, Sweden, later arrested two more men. A total of 48 house searches at various locations in the country. 83 counterfeit artworks were seized. Counterfeit art had already been sold for millions of Swedish kronor and the league's victims were well-known businessmen with huge incomes. The gang had good help from renowned art experts who attached certificate of authenticity to the forged artworks. The gang had on their apartment door in Stockholm put up a sign saying "Society of Art friends". The District Court's judgment: The painting is not painted nor signed by Chaim Soutine, and is therefore a forgery.

Oil on canvas, 45x57 cm, signed "Soutine." Landscape scene with a walking couple, apparently depicting an authentic painting by the Russian-French artist Chaim Soutine. The painting is part of a large police seizing called the "Society of Art friends". Background: Three men, 30, 37 and 40 years old was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden after an intelligence tip from police in Ängelholm, Sweden, later arrested two more men. A total of 48 house searches at various locations in the country. 83 counterfeit artworks were seized. Counterfeit art had already been sold for millions of Swedish kronor and the league's victims were well-known businessmen with huge incomes. The gang had good help from renowned art experts who attached certificate of authenticity to the forged artworks. The gang had on their apartment door in Stockholm put up a sign saying "Society of Art friends". The District Court's judgment: The painting is not painted nor signed by Chaim Soutine, and is therefore a forgery.