Are you into mysteries and true crime stories in the art world? Have you ever wondered how the greatest art forgers have been able to fool even the most renowned art experts? If you’re in the 3rd district of Vienna and have seen enough art works from the dozens of museums in the city, then head to the Flaschermuseum (“Museum of Art Fakes”) for a unique twist on the usual gallery exhibition.
Like many of the special museums in Vienna, this one focuses on art forgery – the nuances and intricacies of how it’s done, the different forms of forgery and many real-life examples from paintings to alleged letters from famous personalities. Aside from this, visitors will also learn about the “history” behind the infamous cases of forgery as told by the individuals who did them and how the fates that awaited them after the forgeries were discovered. A stone’s throw from the Hudertwasserhaus, the privately-owned museum is small but packed with collections of fake artworks and items used in the forgery.
Some noteworthy pieces include the fake Hitler Diaries which were created by Konrad Kujau; paintings by David Stein who copied works of artists such as Chagall, Matisse, Paul Klee and Miro; and works of notorious artists who have made a business out of forgery like Tom Keating who claimed to have copied over 2,000 paintings from hundreds of artists and Elmyr de Hory who conned reputable art galleries around the world with thousands of fake paintings. The gallery also has a gift shop that sells quirky souvenirs.
