Expert: Judy - 10/18/2009

Question
hello i have two paintings and i would like to learn the history but have come up w dead ends online. the first was my gr. gr. grandmas it is a wooden frame painted gold and its a cottage w mountains in the background w trees all around, its signed p.kaiser and kaisertn. w a little copyright goes in the corner. if you could tell me how to find out more...... The second one i found i my attic when i moved, its a wood frame w gold on the inside and on the back it has a print number of 916 and a sticker, MGC co. and the intials M.C.X. with 12/8/15 written in pencil on the paper on the back of the frame. i cant make out the artist name at all. I'm guessing the first letter might be a G, its a fall type painting w a stream and almost bare trees and a dirt road. i can send a picture if you like. anything you can tell me would be apperciated. thank you trish

Answer
Hi, Trisha,

I am sorry to tell you that both of your paintings are highly reproductions.  The first one you mentioned which has a copyright is either an original with a fake name for the signature painted by an artisan employeed by an art factory or a reproduction with artist's consent.

The second one is likely to be an original painted by the artisan in the art factory, for reproductions rarely have numbers on the frames.  However, it is not absolute or certain without seeing it in person.

Not being able to find artist information is all common, for there are so many barely known or unknown artists in the whole world.  You can sometimes have a very difficult time to find someone who is somewhat famous online.  It goes without saying that the names that do not exist are no where to be found online.