Identification of the Artist
As one would guess, the appraiser offered to dig deeper and verify her very preliminary findings, after which the man agreed eagerly. She returned during the next weeks to the artist’s history that she assumed had made the painting. According to her, this artist was one from the mid-20th century, and his abstract expressionist style focused on the critical values of form: emotional intensity and spontaneous use of color and form. Art collectors and museums would be in search of this artist’s art. And very few of these pieces would be in circulation.
The more she could say, the more evidence came to light that the painting was indeed signed by the master artist. She came out with all the old photographs of other paintings done by the same artist, and the man marveled at the similarities in style and technique. Even the bold brush strokes, the layered colors, and distinctive compositions would not be mistaken for anyone else’s work. Seeing these next to his own, the man began to grasp the full magnitude of what he had.
In fact, the appraiser had done some research that indicated this was probably an authentic work by that artist and could be worth life-changing money. Many of the artist’s other paintings had sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and private collectors were clamoring to get their hands on such pieces. He hardly believed that a painting he bought for a few dollars at a yard sale may now make up some of his most valuable possessions.
