Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford True Lies and Genuine Fakes
71 snips
Sep 12, 2025 Dive into the world of art forgery as the notorious Eric Hebborn's audacious schemes unfold. Discover a dramatic tale involving a damaged da Vinci drawing that blurs the lines of authenticity. Explore the implications of deepfake technology in art and politics, revealing challenges in discerning truth. Hebborn's legacy raises profound questions about the nature of reality and trust. The narrative takes unexpected twists, intertwining courtroom drama with philosophical reflections on value and perception.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Da Vinci Redraw Story
- Eric Hebborn told a sensational story about redrawing a damaged da Vinci cartoon at the Royal Academy and receiving a major prize afterwards.
- The Royal Academy denied the tale and the claim remains unverified, leaving the story unresolved.
Bruegel Tale And The Met
- Hebborn described turning an inexpensive Bruegel copy into a convincing 'original' by painting on aged paper and selling it to a museum.
- The Metropolitan Museum denied his claim and disputed his account decades later.
Why Visual Fakes Hurt More
- Deepfake technology matured quickly and initially concentrated on non-consensual pornography because it was easiest and most lucrative.
- Visual deepfakes are more emotionally compelling than text lies and thus particularly dangerous for misinformation.
