Educational Media Reviews Online

Originally filmed in 1949, this documentary tells the story of artist Han Van Meegeren who shocked and embarrassed the staid art world by passing off forged paintings purported to have been created by Jan Vermeer and selling them for over two million dollars in the 1940s. The disclosure in May 1945 is detailed as well as Van Meegeren’s career in art forgery. Though he studied several great masters like Franz Hals and others, he concentrated on Vermeer because of the subdued colors and masterly compositions. Van Meegeren, born in 1889, invented new techniques in simulating 300 year old works with age cracks, old canvasses, dust, and even some faded paints. He was arrested for selling fake Vermeers to Nazi Hermann Goering near the end of World War II and confessed his forgeries and disclosed his methods. He died in prison at the end of 1947.

Video techniques and effects are primitive by today’s standards. Black and white is appropriate for the age of the documentary and adds to understanding of the era in which the forgeries occurred. Editing of paintings and portraits illustrating Van Meegeren’s methods is judicious and effective. This DVD is suitable for adults, and academic libraries will want to provide for their art and art education departments.