Fakes, Forgeries, Knockoffs:The Art of Imitation

4.0 credits

From ancient counterfeits to modern knockoffs, this course examines art’s most skilled imitators. What defines “original,” and who decides? Is a forger a bitter artist, a clever conman, or someone else? We will question our obsession with authenticity, trace when imitation became immoral—or illegal—and uncover the political and economic forces behind such judgments. Moving across cultures and centuries, we’ll see how fakes drove trade, colonial ambitions, and capitalist art markets, even while they were condemned. Through case studies and voices of connoisseurs, scientists, and historians, we’ll explore how truth, value, and deception intertwine—and why fakes reveal more than they conceal.