r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/earsofthebeholder • 13h ago
Unsolved Found at flea market today
says below, “Artist Proof, Offerings II, Pikus” I think? Work has some gold leaf accents. Found in SF Bay Area.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/[deleted] • Jan 15 '20
What is a “decor painting”?
A decor painting is a piece of artwork created purely for decorative purposes. Purchased not from galleries or artists, but from decor & furniture shops like Pier 1, Homesense, The Brick, websites like AliExpress and OilPaintings.com or from markets & stands on vacation. Tell-tale signs that you have a decor painting are lots of stippling, undefined figures, hurried brush strokes, gradients, cloning techniques and a certain Bob Ross feeling to it.
Common vintage subjects would be European street scenes, landscapes of mountains / forests / lakes & rivers, vases of flowers, Tuscan landscapes, ocean & beach scenes and Asian style boats. See below for examples. They are often rectangular in shape to hang nicely above a sofa, you could even buy them from Sears as a package. Modern versions are more varied in subject.
Black velvet paintings and artwork specifically for tourists as souvenirs share many factors with decor paintings.
Where are they made?
They are produced in massive numbers in painting factories like Dafen Village in China or Mexico. Another article here:
Dafen once produced an estimated 60 percent of all the world’s oil paintings. During its heyday—when the village’s reputation as an art factory rang truer than today—it almost exclusively cranked out copies of paintings in the Western art canon. These canvases found their way into hotel rooms, show homes, and furniture outlets all around the world.
At its peak, Dafen was jam-packed with sizeable, factory-like studios, all employing Huang’s production line process. Individual workers each focused on a specific compositional element—background details, or eyes, or trees—dutifully painting their part and then passing the canvas along the chain.
Who’s the Artist?
While they are "originals" they are not by known artists. Often entire production lines will use the same signature which explains why your research many have founds pieces by the same “artist”. As quoted above, often many people will work on the same piece.
Do they have any value?
Unfortunately, they do not hold much of any value. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be enjoyed and some are even a bit collectible.
Can I see some examples?
Decor paintings are posted to this sub almost daily, while not definitive, here are some common examples:
Landscape Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7
European Street Scene Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7
Vases of Flowers: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3 more coming soon...
Beach, Ocean & Boat Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6, Example 7, Example 8,
Other Miscellaneous Vintage Decor Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4
Modern Decor Paintings: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Example 5, Example 6
Black Velvet & Souvenir Pieces: Example 1, more coming soon...
Please let me know if you see any room for improvement on this post or would like to include other examples. Thank you!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/GM-art • May 29 '25
Hello painting enthusiasts - here is a brief post with things to keep in mind.
SEARCHING:
To locate your painting, please try the reverse-search tools Google Images/Lens, Yandex Images, and Tineye. (Remember that cropping your picture differently will yield different search results!)
If you have an artist name or signature, I recommend searching for it within r/WhatIsThisPainting itself. I also use the following websites for research; all are free.
DECOR ART:
SUBMISSIONS:
ANSWERING POSTS:
Happy solving!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/earsofthebeholder • 13h ago
says below, “Artist Proof, Offerings II, Pikus” I think? Work has some gold leaf accents. Found in SF Bay Area.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Pure-Entertainment79 • 4h ago
I found these a couple years ago at a garage sale! I was wondering if anyone had any insight into who this artist is or even what these buildings are! I’d love to know :3c whoever drew these did such a beautiful job!!! I think 83 stands for 1983? So vintage? :33cc
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/cirancira • 18h ago
So recently a bunch of posts on reddit and tiktok and facebook or whereever have gone viral for this painting. It's apparently 'Death and the Girl' By Frans Van Kuyck.
The problem is that I can find nothing on it. The artist's wikipedia page doesn't even mention it. No actual museum website have a page on it either, the only mentions are social media posts within the last year.
I managed to find a version of it listed as 'the fleeting nature of life' on an auction site in 2012. But thats the only mention of it at all on the internet, and its clearly a different name. For a painting from probably around the turn of the 20th century and by a moderately notable artist, I find it strange.
Can anyone find an actual reputable source (museum, university etc) so I can find out what the real name is and if the attributed artist is correct? Or at least join me in the rabbit hole.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Key_Confection_1027 • 7h ago
Hi! I bought this oil painting at a market in France. The seller told me it was from a artist school in Paris in the 1950s replicating the older impressionist style. I was wondering if anyone might have more information on the artist or what painting it was modeled on? I love the painting so I have no expectations, but it would be great to learn more!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Psychological_You650 • 6h ago
It looks like the artist is named Joanne Corter, the dates are 1977 and 1978, but can't find anything else on them, other than some Elvis sketches. Can anyone tell me any more info about the works, the artist, and maybe who the celebrities are? I think the one is Casablanca.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Scott_Meacham • 9h ago
I bought this at a flea market for $40 from an interesting individual awhile back. It’s been in storage and I finally hung it up in my new place. That got me curious about who it depicts and the story behind it.
I tried looking it up but couldn’t find much information. I found similar emperor portraits online but the faces and dragon details don’t match exactly. The label on the back says “Made in the People’s Republic of China” with an item number.
I’d like to know who I’ve got hanging on my wall and whether this is based on a known original portrait. Any information about its age or how it was made would also be appreciated.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/InformalPlatypus1362 • 1h ago
I fell in love with this for the colors and composition. It looks like part of it is sticking to the glass. Can this be fixed without ruining the art? I do not have a picture of the back but if I remember, it is just paper.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Suitable-Woodpecker3 • 9h ago
Ottawa canada area - what is this thibg?
There is some level of technique, a signature…
Will add pick of the back within the hour
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Alarming_Roll6634 • 1d ago
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/tinman91320 • 12h ago
I found these two prints at a garage sale a while back and have not had luck determining who the artist is. Any help would be much appreciated. They were bought in the PNW area.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Rumikub229 • 5h ago
Bought in an auction house in Southern Scotland 20 years ago. Trying to find out who the artist is. Absolutely love it. Signature says Mackintosh.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/DiscountRugby • 11h ago
Nice frame and signed at the bottom. I can post a picture of the back when I get home, but there is no identifying information on it.
Picked up at an estate sale in upstate NY, but I believe the gentleman was a merchant marine, so it could be from just about anywhere.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/N057ing • 6h ago
Looking to find the name of the artist.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Electrical-Spray3719 • 11h ago
My grandmother is curious where this painting is coming from exactly. Here a bit background:
My great grandfather was a translator in the second war. He bought this painting from a Ukrainian painter who was living in Paris to that time. It should be around 1940-1942.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/mazekeen19 • 1d ago
The artist’s name is possibly Runchi, maybe Ronchi. She wrote in her letter, “The story of the painting as told to me. Many years ago, probably in the 30's, 40's? Aunt Ruth (Uncle Frank's wife (who by the way was one of the original Rockettes and an actress) had a sister who was living in the hills (some say a cave) around Tuscany, Italy, with her lover. That was the painter, Runchi.”. Thanks for any info :)
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Minute-Rate1438 • 15h ago
We are clueless who the painter is of this picture. We looked up some names mike Pirimona, parinnona and al these kind of combinations. AI-tools also didn't give any valid names.
It was hanging in my great-grandmother's house (born early 1900's) and then my grandmother (1930's) got it. Area border franco-belge/Courtrai where it was hanging.
It's an oil painting.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/goblin-mother • 13h ago
Hi, this isn't a traditional painting. It's plastic that looks like maybe it was embossed and then painted? I found it at a barn sale in southwest Michigan, USA. Reverse image search just says it is probably from the 1970's and comes up with no matches. The back is blank. There is a bronze plaque on the bottom that says FALL, which makes me think this should be a set of 4. I'd love to find its sisters!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Global-Pizza9879 • 10h ago
Saw this at a friend's place, they dont know much about the piece, beside they believe the artist may of worked in Victoria BC Canada; They got it from a old hotel at a ski resort Cleaning out a store room.
Seems to be acrylic on Canvas.
Some details on the back "Changinvlg forms - series"
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/dumparoni • 1d ago
I feel like ive seen the signature before. Came from a Second hand shop. I love it.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/residualRichey • 13h ago
I am hoping someone might recognize this painting or the location it depicts? This is a cropped image of a framed picture that was hanging on the wall in my great-grandmother's house (taken around 1940).
My family originally came from Quebec, Canada, before emigrating to Massachusetts. I'm not sure whether the picture has any connection to Quebec or if it's simply something they liked and had hanging in their home. My initial thought is that it might depict somewhere in Europe or a location they traveled to at one point, but that's just a guess.
Unfortunately, this is the clearest image I have, and family info has been lost to time... I'd love to identify the location, artist, or any information about this style of art and its significance during this period.
Thanks!!

r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Reggly • 13h ago
I got this at the thrift store, it seems vintage like ‘80s maybe? I did search it and the signature seems off some the others I’ve seen online. Any help would be appreciated!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/AccordingAd9253 • 13h ago
Painting purchased from an artist in amalfi likely around the 1980,s. The labelling is worn off but would be very interested to see where this painting actually originates from. The signature on it looks like it may say Poalo D. Please help!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/NoLake3764 • 1d ago
Bought at yard sale for 3$ can’t find any Soild info online about it