Lessing - Forgery

Introduction

  • The paper by Alfred Lessing seeks to address the question: "What is wrong with a forgery?"

  • Assumes that forgery inherently carries a negative connotation associated with the absence of genuineness or authenticity.

Concept of Forgery

  • Definition: Forgery can only be understood in contrast to authenticity, implying a normative judgment.

  • Aesthetic Value: Generally believed that artistic forgeries negate aesthetic value, but Lessing argues this is not the case.

  • Snobbery vs. Aesthetic Judgment:

    • Viewing forgery as aesthetically inferior reflects social snobbery rather than genuine aesthetic critique.

    • Tension exists between public beliefs about the aesthetic worth of forged art, exemplified by the case of Han van Meegeren.

Case Study: Han van Meegeren

  • Van Meegeren's forgeries included paintings misidentified as genuine works by Vermeer.

  • Critics were embarrassed upon discovering their praise was directed toward a forgery.

  • Public Reaction: Confessions by Van Meegeren provoked questions on the validity of aesthetic standards upheld by critics.

Aesthetic vs. Authenticity

  • Critics faced a dilemma: Either retract their previous praise for the forgery or acknowledge its aesthetic excellence despite being inauthentic.

  • The problematic relationship between forgeries and their attributed aesthetic value raises questions about the essence of art criticism.

Interpretation of Art

  • The distinction between genuine works and forgeries is not always clear, with significant overlap in aesthetic appreciation.

  • Influence of Knowledge: A viewer's awareness of a painting's authenticity can influence their aesthetic experience but does not inherently alter the work's beauty.

Legal and Moral Implications

  • Concept of Deception: Forgery typically involves legal and moral deception.

    • Most artistic fakes arise from mistakes rather than deliberate attempt at fraud, complicating the definition of forgery.

  • Distinction must be made between deceptive inventions and legitimate misunderstandings.

The Nature of Artistic Integrity

  • Forgery is not just about deception but about a lack of integrity and originality within the artistic context.

  • Performance as Distinction: The notion of forgery is not applicable to performing arts, emphasizing the unique status of original creative works.

Originality and Forgery

  • Definitions of Originality:

    1. Unique identity of an object (trivial essence).

    2. Superficial individuality distinguishing artwork from others (individuality).

    3. Imaginative novelty or spontaneity in technique and expression (creative originality).

    4. Great artistic achievement defined by profound originality.

    5. Originality as part of a collective artistic movement or tradition ( ◦ A work's originality determined in historical context).

Conclusion on Van Meegeren's Art

  • Despite possessing aesthetic beauty, Van Meegeren's works lack the historical originality that defines a significant artistic achievement.

  • The paradox remains: Van Meegeren's forgeries can aesthetically reflect Vermeer's genius but do not equate in artistic integrity or originality.

  • Final Thoughts: The search for original beauty motivates the evolution of artistic excellence, situating originality as a pivotal trait of true artistry.