Breaking van Gogh: Saint-Rémy, Forgery, and the $95 Million Fake at the Met

by James Ottar Grundvig

In Breaking van Gogh , James Grundvig investigates the history and authenticity of van Gogh’s iconic Wheat Field with Cypresses , currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Relying on a vast array of techniques from the study of the painter’s biography and personal correspondence to the examination of the painting’s style and technical characteristics, Grundvig proves that “the most expensive purchase” housed in the Met is a fake.

The Wheat Field with Cypresses is traditionally considered to date to the time of van Gogh’s stay in the Saint-Rémy mental asylum, where the artist produced many of his masterpieces. After his suicide, these paintings languished for a decade, until his sister-in-law took them to a family friend for restoration. The restorer had other ideas.

In the course of his investigation, Grundvig traces the incredible story of this piece from the artist’s brushstrokes in sunlit southern France to a forger’s den in Paris, the art collections of a prominent Jewish banking family and a Nazi-sympathizing Swiss arms dealer, and finally the walls of the Met. The riveting narrative weaves its way through the turbulent history of twentieth-century Europe, as the painting’s fate is intimately bound with some of its major players.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, History, Art History, True Crime, Audiobook

280 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Brie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject matter is very interesting: who wouldn't be intrigued by the fact that the Met may have a forgery hanging on their walls? My issues with the book had to with the author; the organization of the book isn't great, and some of the evidence isn't well-stated enough to be convincing. On the other hand, the book is well-researched and an enjoyable read.

[Melet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, if a little one-sided

This guy is absolutely positive about this painting being fake, and this book makes his case well. But a more balanced account which leaves the reader to make her own call would have been welcome.

[JL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and very thoroughly researched. The insight into the last few years of Van Gogh's life seems irrelevant to the topic at first (albeit a very interesting read) but ultimately does provide some context to the history of the painting under discussion. I'm not an art expert or even an art lover per se, but found this an enjoyable and informative read.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. The book was essentially a sleuthing exercise by the author to show that the provenance for van Gogh's painting 'Wheatfield with Cypress Trees" (the painting now resides at the Met Museum in New York) cannot be proven and the painting that is at the Met is most likely a fake.

The book is split into 4 parts and the author has done some really great research to track down the ownership lines of this particular painting, the roadblocks he went through to get the info and the stonewalling of the major museums/galleries that pay lip service to stopping art crime, but in essence, don't seem to do much to combat it, or help others work out forgeries and fakes.

There is a large section in the book about van Gogh and his life; from his early career as a preacher, through his various art periods, friendships (such as they were) and his relationships with his family, in particular his younger brother Theo. It's amazing that because van Gogh was such a prolific letter writer and record keeper, we know so much about his work, the dates he painted and when canvases were sent to his brother to sell - and this all leads back to working out which van Gogh paintings are real and which are not.

Fabulous read - highly recommend.

[Sherry Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really found a lot of material in this book fascinating and informative, but I also thought it was somewhat confusing and the material disorganized. Perhaps this was in part due to my reading it on a tablet instead of a paper copy. It doesn't tell the multiple part story of Van Gogh, the Swiss arms dealer/collector and his sister, the alleged forger, and the way the National Gallery in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York handled different versions of the same painting. The author is convinced that the one at the Met is a No Gogh. I think it would have helped the reader discern differences if there were color pictures of the paintings. That said, it does have an invaluable resources for Van Gogh buffs to read his letters (which confirmed when the painting was done). Readers will also understand how blockchains can help prevent fakes from being sold and donated.

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Very detailed investigation into the provenance of one Van Gogh artwork … that turned out to be two of… or is that three? Or is that two plus one fake? I’m amazed at how much I understood about the details of the work from an audiobook. Great descriptions! The positive surprise was a mini biography of Vincent tucked into the middle of this book, with fresh speculations onto what impacted his health, without depicting him as crazy. Very respectful and honouring. Only downside was the author’s distain for The Met after they stonewalled his attempts to see the provenance records of the work; unfortunately he let this get the better of him and the book ended on a bit of a sour and snippy note. Still a fantastic listen!

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially quite hard and boring to read as it commenced with the descent of the Bührle business into bankruptcy thus the contemplated sale and value of “Wheat Field with Cypress”. The story became a lot more interesting when it discussed the final years of Van Gogh’s artistry leading to the deaths of Vincent, then his brother, Theo. The story makes it one-sided but only because the Met refuses to cooperate with the investigation of the possible forged masterpiece. Nevertheless I learned quite a few things about the art world and some tips on how to analyse the authenticity of the works of Van Gogh.

[Alarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently a $95 million fake Van Gogh is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Met has been pretty darn complicit in refusing to own up to it, remove the painting from display, or to honor public disclosure laws. Grundvig makes a good case, and I love hearing how to tell a real from a fake. The problem is, there wasn’t enough interesting material to stretch to book length. I really enjoyed the sections about Van Gogh, his brother and step-sister, and how to identify a fake. But all of that could have been covered in 100 pages, not enough to form a book without adding a lot of expensive photos. The result was to repeat, repeat, and repeat again.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s better than a 3 star book for me but I can’t give it a 4 either. It was very interesting an I learned a lot about Vincent and his family and about how often art was copied and stolen. So many copies before he even sold a painting is amazing. The authors personal opinion on a couple of things I could have done without and I was ready to be finished with it a few chapters before the end. I’m glad I read it and I would recommend it to fans of van Gogh.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I learned a lot, however the last third felt like the author had an axe to grind and a need to prove that he (NOT an art historian) was much smarter than trained art historians and Van Gogh experts.

[Cindy Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informational!! I learned more about Van Gogh, which was interesting. But the author clearly beat the dead horse in declaring there are Van Gogh fakes in the world. He was very thorough - he spent three years researching.

[Samm · Rating 2 out of 5]

authors kind of a douche in his opinion. he’s very rigid in his thoughts and doesn’t really give the alternate opinion. idk the last couple of chapters were annoying and kind of arrogant in citing himself as detecting a fake. the book was all speculation.

[Cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book, but told in a very matter of fact, almost clinical way. Would make a great mini series. Also- to further deeply appreciate the book, find a book of van Gogh’s artwork for referral.

[Tex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely interesting proposition of a forgery hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with stunning detailed background.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it disappointing. Great story but the facts were repeated - it felt like the author was padding the pages by delivering the same information over and over again.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish at 85%. The same information repeated too many times where it doesn’t fit into the narrative.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rambling.

[Candace Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read. I'm convinced! It's a fake!

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Breaking van Gogh, James Grundvig investigates the history and authenticity of van Gogh’s iconic Wheat Field with Cypresses, currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Relying on a vast array of techniques from the study of the painter’s biography and personal correspondence to the examination of the painting’s style and technical characteristics, Grundvig proves that “the most expensive purchase” housed in the Met is a fake.

The Wheat Field with Cypresses is traditionally considered to date to the time of van Gogh’s stay in the Saint-Rémy mental asylum, where the artist produced many of his masterpieces. After his suicide, these paintings languished for a decade, until his sister-in-law took them to a family friend for restoration. The restorer had other ideas.

In the course of his investigation, Grundvig traces the incredible story of this piece from the artist’s brushstrokes in sunlit southern France to a forger’s den in Paris, the art collections of a prominent Jewish banking family and a Nazi-sympathizing Swiss arms dealer, and finally the walls of the Met. The riveting narrative weaves its way through the turbulent history of twentieth-century Europe, as the painting’s fate is intimately bound with some of its major players.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads. Interesting and well thought out. Makes you wonder.