The Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo has broken traditional museum protocol by placing a known forgery, "Seascape at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer," on public display. Acquired in 1928 by museum founder Helene Kröller-Müller from the notorious Berlin dealer Otto Wacker, the painting was eventually exposed as a fake created by Wacker’s brother, Leonhard. The exhibition, which runs until June 21, coincides with a new podcast detailing the history of the acquisition and the subsequent fraud trial that rocked the art world in the 1930s.
This presentation matters because it shifts the focus from aesthetic value to the historical and educational importance of provenance and connoisseurship. By showcasing a work that was once a prized part of the collection, the museum highlights the fallibility of art experts and the sophisticated methods used by forgers to mimic Van Gogh’s style. Furthermore, the painting’s survival in storage preserved a rare, original Art Deco frame designed by Jacob van den Bosch, most of which were discarded from authentic works in the 1950s, offering a unique glimpse into early 20th-century framing history.