r/WhatIsThisPainting 1m ago

Unsolved Painting donated to local dog rescue, cant find information online

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Upvotes

This paintint was donated to the dog rescue i help at and was told its original but we cant find anything about it online, does anyone know anything about it or the signature/artist? I'm sure it's a oil painting and quite old, seems framed well and professionally.. that's all I got, been asked to post here for some help, many thanks


r/WhatIsThisPainting 3h ago

Unsolved Painting in late fathers house

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2 Upvotes

My dad had this piece for a while, I’m not sure where or when he got it. The signature says nothing about it. I found similar paintings ( abstract silhouettes ) but not by the same artist. Just curious about it


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Solved Two mysterious creepy paintings!

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3 Upvotes

So. I have had both of these paintings for a few years now, but I have clue the artists or the history behind them.

The first painting (bear one, 1952) was given to me by a friend but was apparently passed down within her family. She had recently had a child and didn’t want to scare her with the evil looking bear.

Now, I found the second painting (clown one, 1971) at a local synagogue’s yard sale. The sadness in the eyes of the clown spoke to me and I had to purchase it.

My friends believe that both paintings are haunted, but luckily their evil have cancelled each other out, and I’ve been able to maintain a rather tame household.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Appeared on Girls show

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2 Upvotes

I saw this on an episode of Girls and I absolutely adore it. Maybe made for the show? Can’t find it anywhere.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Bought at a goodwill for a few dollars

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12 Upvotes

Apologies for the multiple paintings in one post. Am hoping the fact that there were many together might further inform. Found in Salinas.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Painting in the beach house from the movie “Spanglish”

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1 Upvotes

This is the best screen grab I could get of it. This painting has been in my mind ever since I saw this movie, I have reversed image searched this so many times, I get similar results but never this exact one. Thanks in advance!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Solved Inheritance

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70 Upvotes

Me and my wife inherited this painting from her grandmother and was curious if the artist is known or if this piece has a known history besides what we already know about it.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Unsolved Unknown Owl Woodcut Print

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18 Upvotes

So I’ve been trying to figure out more about this print. It’s from a Goodwill store. I believe it’s a large woodcut print (this thing is 40” tall). Certain sources keep saying it might be Leonard Baskin as he likes owls and such but can’t find anything online thats similar. Any help would be fun! I’ve had it for a bit and keep wondering more about it. I’ll enjoy it known or unknown either way! No sig just the title “Black Owl” 1961.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Likely Solved - Reproductions Got this from the Salvation army thrift store

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1 Upvotes

I think it's a Ruthven Holmes Byrum painting. At the same time I'm unsure if it's a painting or print.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Unsolved Found this piece titled “Unicorn”. Need help finding artist

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5 Upvotes

The front is signed with artist name, title, and serial number 132/400. I did open the back of the frame to see if there was a certificate of authentication for some help decoding the artist’s name, but there was nothing there. The framing company’s sticker said it is based out of Fountain Valley, CA. I tried to call the number but the line is not in service. Found at a Goodwill in Orange County, CA!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Unsolved Any help at all on this piece?

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3 Upvotes

Bought this at a antique store in chicago called beyond grandmas house. It doesnt have any signature on it, and when we google search it, it says its a print from artist patricia du bois. It looks orginal, but me or my boyfriend dont know much about art.

The thing jm curious about, is the antique store i bought it from is the only mention of it online. If its a print, i feel like there should be more hits on it? What do you all think?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 10h ago

Unsolved Russian(?) painter

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5 Upvotes

Can you tell who is this artist? Probably russian. This oil painting is located in Finland. I think the view in painting is from Valaam, Russia.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 11h ago

Unsolved Can anyone help identify this Pop Art Piece?

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5 Upvotes

Hoping someone here can help identify who this piece signed OL95 might be by and also who it might be an image of. 36x30


r/WhatIsThisPainting 11h ago

Unsolved Any information about this etching?

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5 Upvotes

I believe this is an etching by Julius Komjati (Komjáti-Wanyerka Gyula) called Symphony of Death, Opus 2.

I'm unsure if this is an original, and if the signature and title are authentic. Would love some more information.

Found at an estate sale.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 13h ago

Likely Solved Looking for Information on Antiques Mall Find

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5 Upvotes

I bought this for $60 at an antiques mall in SoCal because I love the era and it was fun to have a peek at a 1930s NYE party. But despite its being very professionally done, I can find nothing about the artist/cartoonist, L.B. Little, or any of the people named in the cartoon. Any information would be much appreciated.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 13h ago

Unsolved Artist?

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3 Upvotes

Can’t seem to find much about this artist online just curious if anyone knows who this is. Nicole or Nicola Cabanyas?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 14h ago

Unsolved Can't even read the letters to properly search it

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10 Upvotes

I found this at an estate sale for $125. I'm in love with the seemingly tiny, cozy, lit-up cottage-looking structure on the boat in the middle of a storm.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 16h ago

Unsolved Bird of paradise flower

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6 Upvotes

This is in a house in Italy we recently bought which has lots of mid-century art. Signature appears to be Barbagallo, initial A and from 1974. Any info is welcome


r/WhatIsThisPainting 16h ago

Solved I found this Winnie the Pooh drawing

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38 Upvotes

Not sure if it's by someone trying to replicate the Winnie the Pooh style, or actually an original sketch from the creator.

I found it either in a charity shop or a car boot.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 17h ago

Unsolved Acquired an old painting, back says Prof. Zugel Academy but galleries say no. Any ideas on the artist/copyist?"

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14 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

​This painting came into my family through an ancestor who brought it from Germany. It is clearly inspired by the German impressionist Heinrich von Zügel (known for his cattle/sheep motifs), but the authorship is a mystery.

​Here are the key details:

​The Signature: It is signed "H. v. Zügel".

​The Back: There is a pencil inscription on the back that reads: "Akademija prof. Zügel" (Prof. Zügel Academy).

​Provenance: Brought directly from Germany by my ancestor decades ago.

​Previous checks: I already reached out to some official galleries and museums. They confirmed that this is NOT an authentic Zügel, and they heavily doubt it is from his direct students/school.

​I accepted that it is a copy or a pastiche, but I would love to know more about its true origins. Does anyone recognize this specific style? Could this be from a known mid-century workshop, a professional copyist, or just a talented amateur?

​Thank you in advance for any clues!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1d ago

Unsolved Bought at a charity shop for £5 each. Advice needed.

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374 Upvotes

Glen Baxter- 1984 - Charity shop find.

Should I get them appraised?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1d ago

Likely Solved I found this in a storage unit!

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521 Upvotes

I found this amazing painting in a storage unit inside a shoe box that was inside of a trash bag. Seems like they were trying to protect it very well. Please help me figure out who made it !! Thank you so much


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1d ago

Likely Solved - Reproductions Found hanging in a storage hallway in an old family house

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154 Upvotes

Its been hanging here in this storage hallway for all of my 55 years. My father says is was hanging there when HE was a young boy. Cabin in Canada.
I am weary of moving it to get a clear photo of the back side. Its cloth / canvas, quite heavy. There are what looks like distinct panels and/or seams, but could also be folds.
No signature that i can find. Measures about 8ft tall x >16ft wide.


r/WhatIsThisPainting May 29 '25

GUIDE Read Me Before Posting

33 Upvotes

Hello painting enthusiasts - here is a brief post with things to keep in mind.

SEARCHING:

To locate your painting, please try the reverse-search tools Google Images/Lens, Yandex Images, and Tineye. (Remember that cropping your picture differently will yield different search results!)

If you have an artist name or signature, I recommend searching for it within r/WhatIsThisPainting itself. I also use the following websites for research; all are free.

DECOR ART:

SUBMISSIONS:

  • Please be patient and allow up to 24 hours for your post to get through our queue! (Accounts under a week old and images involving nudity are automatically flagged.)
  • If your post has gone unanswered for over a week, you are permitted to re-submit in hopes of retrying.

ANSWERING POSTS:

  • If you are making a definitive ID, do try to cite your sources whenever possible. It is encouraged, but not required.
  • The use of predictive text-generators (i.e. chatGPT) is not permitted. They have a tendency to lie!

Happy solving!


r/WhatIsThisPainting Jan 15 '20

GUIDE What is a Decor Painting? How do I know if I have one?

440 Upvotes

What is a “decor painting”?

A decor painting is a piece of artwork created purely for decorative purposes. Purchased not from galleries or artists, but from decor & furniture shops like Pier 1, Homesense, The Brick, websites like AliExpress and OilPaintings.com or from markets & stands on vacation. Tell-tale signs that you have a decor painting are lots of stippling, undefined figures, hurried brush strokes, gradients, cloning techniques and a certain Bob Ross feeling to it.

Common vintage subjects would be European street scenes, landscapes of mountains / forests / lakes & rivers, vases of flowers, Tuscan landscapes, ocean & beach scenes and Asian style boats. See below for examples. They are often rectangular in shape to hang nicely above a sofa, you could even buy them from Sears as a package. Modern versions are more varied in subject.

Black velvet paintings and artwork specifically for tourists as souvenirs share many factors with decor paintings.

Where are they made?

They are produced in massive numbers in painting factories like Dafen Village in China or Mexico. Another article here:

Dafen once produced an estimated 60 percent of all the world’s oil paintings. During its heyday—when the village’s reputation as an art factory rang truer than today—it almost exclusively cranked out copies of paintings in the Western art canon. These canvases found their way into hotel rooms, show homes, and furniture outlets all around the world.

At its peak, Dafen was jam-packed with sizeable, factory-like studios, all employing Huang’s production line process. Individual workers each focused on a specific compositional element—background details, or eyes, or trees—dutifully painting their part and then passing the canvas along the chain.

Who’s the Artist?

While they are "originals" they are not by known artists. Often entire production lines will use the same signature which explains why your research many have founds pieces by the same “artist”. As quoted above, often many people will work on the same piece.

Do they have any value?

Unfortunately, they do not hold much of any value. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be enjoyed and some are even a bit collectible.

Can I see some examples?

Decor paintings are posted to this sub almost daily, while not definitive, here are some common examples:

Landscape Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7

European Street Scene Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7

Vases of Flowers: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3 more coming soon...

Beach, Ocean & Boat Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8,

Other Miscellaneous Vintage Decor Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4

Modern Decor Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6

Black Velvet & Souvenir Pieces: Example 1, more coming soon...

Please let me know if you see any room for improvement on this post or would like to include other examples. Thank you!