You come home with your brand new treasure, only to get it out of the frame and it looks...off. Don't despair! This happens from time to time, even to the best of us.
I picked up these two Sam back prints at a second-hand shop a while ago. As you can see the signatures are slightly different on each piece, the subject matter is typical Sam Black, and the size is spot on. I should have known the light grey title to the left was suspicious, however, I didn't have a loupe with me and the prints were behind non-glare glass.
I brought them home, took them out of the frame and looked at them with a loupe. Even with the loupe, it's not easy to tell by the print alone, but that writing in the lower left hand corner is pixelated, badly, like a Lichtenstein painting.
I'd read that there were some Black reproductions out there, but I've never come across any information on them. Like why would Black would sign reproductions, especially when woodcuts are already a reproductive medium? I keep them though, as a curiosity and a learning experience, (and luckily I didn't pay too much for them).
Some tips and tricks to identifying fake from real:
- If you have a jeweller's loupe or small magnifying glass, carry it with you, this can be invaluable for checking signatures and edges.
- Beware of non-glare glass, it's hard to see through clearly, especially with a loupe.
- Check the paper quality, is it too light? Or textured like an art card?
- Check the back of the canvas or paper for any marks or writing that might indicate it's authentic.
- Research your piece if you think it might be fake - start with the size. Is yours the same size as the catalogues list?
- Lastly, if you feel you might be dealing with a dubious piece, ask if you can take it out of the frame for further inspection. Some people will allow you to, some won't.
Check my Sam Blacks out for yourself below. Do you have any additional info? Have you ever bought something that turned out to be fake? I'd love to hear your stories!
