Paul GAUGUIN
1848–1903, France/Marshall Islands

Oil on canvas, "Les femmes dans le foret", signed "P Gauguin", approx. 63x48 cm. The painting has previously been exhibited at Liljevalch's in Stockholm. The painting is part of a major fraud seizures of counterfeit art in Sweden known as ”The Society of Art Friends”: Three men, aged 30, 37, and 40 years old, were caught in Stockholm, Sweden after a reconnaissance tip from police in Ängelholm, Sweden. Shortly afterwards, another two men were caught. In total, 48 house searches were made through out the nation from which 83 forged paintings were confiscated. Forged art had already been sold for millions of Swedish crowns. Victims of the gang were well known businessmen with considerable incomes. League had good help from educated art experts who have written certificate of authenticity to many of the fake paintings, often at very small remuneration. On a door to a flat in Stockholm the men had displayed a sign with the text “The Society of Art Friends”.

Oil on canvas, lying naked woman, 46x92 cm, signed "Paul Gauguin". The painting is signed later in the upper right corner. The painting is probably an original work of some young modernist painted in 1910-1920's. It is painted so that it could resemble Gauguin art. Paul Gauguin reduced, however, never a face that has been made on this painting. The artist has been influenced by Matisse or Cubism, the background is plane which is typical of Cubism. The painting is otherwise of good quality. On the reverse side is been signed, "Blair HS 26". The district court's assessment: The painting are not done by Paul Gauguin, nor signed by him. It is a forgery and shall be forfeited.