Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
The Art Forger, the Nazi, and "The Pope"
Mar 12, 2021
Explore the audacious life of Han van Meegeren, a master forger who duped art experts and even the Nazis during WWII. Unpack the psychological allure of wishful thinking that enabled his forgeries to deceive the Dutch art community. Discover the complex interplay between expertise and emotion in art valuation, highlighting how biases can blind even the most knowledgeable connoisseurs. The podcast reveals the darker truths of art forgery and its implications amidst historical theft and cultural narratives.
35:16
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Quick takeaways
- Deep expertise can be overshadowed by emotions and the desire to believe something is true.
- Skilled con artists can exploit the emotional desires and biases of experts, leading them to overlook obvious signs of forgery.
Deep dives
The Power of Wishful Thinking and Expertise
Abraham Bradyus, an art critic and expert on Vermeer, fell victim to wishful thinking when he was presented with a forgery by Han Van Megerin. Despite some red flags, Bradyus desperately wanted the painting to be a Vermeer masterpiece that would fill a gap in Vermeer's oeuvre. This example highlights how deep expertise can be overshadowed by emotions and the desire to believe something is true.
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