Watch Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery

Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery is a 2014 documentary about Wolfgang Beltracchi, the world-renowned art forger who fooled the art world for over 40 years. Directed by Arne Birkenstock, the film takes us on a journey through the life of Beltracchi from his early years as a struggling artist to his successful career as a master forger.

Beltracchi was born in Germany in 1951 and showed an early talent for art. However, he struggled to sell his own paintings and turned to forgery as a means of making money. The film shows how Beltracchi and his wife Helene developed a sophisticated system of forging paintings that fooled even the experts.

The film includes interviews with Beltracchi, his wife Helene, and art experts who were involved in the case. We learn about the elaborate schemes that Beltracchi used to make his forgeries look authentic, including using old canvases, creating fake provenance, and using pigments that matched those used by the original artist.

The film also explores the psychology of forgery, and why people are drawn to it. Beltracchi himself admits to the thrill of seeing his fakes displayed in prestigious museums and galleries around the world, and the film suggests that the art market is often more interested in the value of art than in its authenticity.

Beltracchi was eventually caught in 2010 and sentenced to six years in prison. The film follows his trial and shows how his forgeries were identified and authenticated. However, the film also suggests that the art world is still vulnerable to forgers and that there may be many other fakes still in circulation.

Overall, Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery is a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary that explores the world of art forgery and the people who are drawn to it. It raises questions about the value of art, the role of experts, and the relationship between art and money. The film is well-crafted and engaging, and it is a must-see for anyone interested in art, crime, or human psychology.

Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery is a 2014 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 73.