by physical inspection
1 Glance at canvas front
2 Study back of canvas
3 Judge numerals in painting’s date for fluidity
4 Compare canvas size to catalogue raisonne centimeters
5 Compare paint application to catalogue raisonne
6 Compare elements of composition –outlines, interior marks and negative spaces
7 Compare colors
Online research identified current location for Woman in a Straw Hat 6 25 1938 as in Lucerne, Switzerland in the Rosengart Collection. Not likely painting had been loaned to residents in Phoenix, Arizona.
Image above is not the faux Picasso brought for input on November 30, 2025. Inspected faux Picasso at first glance looked too slick. Fabric was incorrect for correct painting’s date. Numerals were wrongly written, their flow, when compared to catalogue raisonne of the correct version. Canvas size was roughly 5″ (12.7 cm) too small in height and yet the composition’s content corresponded to catalogue raisonne. Paint application did not utilize dry brush, which issues skips in the line quality. Some interior marks were altogether missing, while others slanted out of sync with the original Picasso painting. Character of green in the figure’s hair was incorrect.
Fortunately the apppraisal client was gracious about the less than stellar news about their acquisition.
Thank goodness for catalogue raisonnes (books citing many and in rare cases, all known examples of an artist’s works) as well as the internet identifying many public current locations of works by “important” artists.
FakeArt.org offers valuable sources for information. Well-trained art appraisers can help in your pursuit of information as well.
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com