While buying art, it is important to conduct a thorough research to ensure it is authentic and its provenance is clearly established. When you buy from an auction house, most of this information is easily available as the vetting process is complete and therefore you can be sure that it is an authentic work of art. Despite such measures in place, fakes and forged artworks continue to make their presence felt in art circles. When you are buying an artwork from a gallery or a dealer , you should not hesitate to make enquiries to your satisfaction.
When buying art, knowing about the artist and the background of the artwork can give an indication regarding the piece. Seasoned buyers are aware of authenticity certificates and provenance, and take adequate steps. First-time buyers should ensure that an authenticity certificate is issued along with the artwork. The certificate should list details of the art piece such as the title, name of the artist, medium and size, an image of the artwork and be appropriately signed by the gallery representative or the artist.
Usually, this process is quite streamlined now, and galleries do their utmost to ensure that only authentic works are sold through them, but sometimes there are gaps in the system which allows fakes and forged works to pass through. In cases where the artist is no more, it might become difficult to establish the origins of the artwork clearly. Authenticating an artwork after buying one is an i n e x p e n s ive process and it is better to be convinced about the artwork before buying it. In this regard, it always helps to buy from a reputed and a credible source whether it is an art dealer or a gallery.
A few years ago, there were indications that measures such as registering an artwork at a central agency and tagging them with authentication proofs would be widely adopted, but this hasn't been implemented yet here. Till such a system becomes a standard practice, there is no harm in being alert and vigilant when buying art.
