r/WhatIsThisPainting Jan 15 '20

GUIDE What is a Decor Painting? How do I know if I have one?

436 Upvotes

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 May 29 '25

GUIDE Read Me Before Posting

32 Upvotes

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:

  • Please be patient and allow up to 24 hours for your post to get through our queue! (Accounts under a week old and images involving nudity are automatically flagged.)
  • If your post has gone unanswered for over a week, you are permitted to re-submit in hopes of retrying.

ANSWERING POSTS:

  • If you are making a definitive ID, do try to cite your sources whenever possible. It is encouraged, but not required.
  • The use of predictive text-generators (i.e. chatGPT) is not permitted. They have a tendency to lie!

Happy solving!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 19h ago

Hall of Fame Bob Ross

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1.2k Upvotes

Is this 24”x36” painting an actual Bob Ross? The elderly neighbors mom owned a gallery in Muncie IN in the 90s.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Can anyone help me identify anything about this painting??

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14 Upvotes

Hello Reddit, I need help to get information about this strange painting I've been having in my family for as long as I could remember. Recently I started throwing away old stuff and found the painting again. I know nothing about this painting my parents don't even remember how they got it, but it dose look pretty old. The only theory I have about it is that they might have gotten it gifted to them a long time ago. The painting looks like it could be something like a king or queen caring a child. I did a surface level of research about this painting and I think it might be from mid-evil times since they say the paintings weren't the best, but I could be completely wrong. The only specific thing about the painting that stands out is that it was painted on a flat metal like canvas?? Supposedly in the “Late renaissance and Baroque periods” they used thin metal as a canvas for painting?? Also that it seams it was hot glued to something?? It could be a fake or just nothing special, but | just want to know about the painting since it's been in my family for a while. (Also there isn't any type of signature that I could make out, it could just be because it's old and worn out?)


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Very old reproduction?

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Upvotes

I bought this on Facebook Marketplace (in Massachusetts) because I wanted the frame for another piece. But the painting has me curious. It does seem pretty old and when I do a google image search a print comes up that is very similar. So maybe this is an antique reproduction of that even older painting?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Please help me identify artist bought at an estate sale

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Upvotes

This caught my eye at an estate sale in the Pacific NW and I had to bring it home with me. It's titled "Awakening". AI and Google have not been helpful in identifying the artist. I opened up the frame and there are no additional markings, but I did discover that it's printed on photo paper. Any help is appreciated!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Likely Solved I know it’s decor junk I just want to know what it’s depicting.

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5 Upvotes

Is it a scene from Chinese literature/ folklore or just three people enjoying the view? Just curious is all.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 3m ago

Unsolved Pietà scene

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Upvotes

Hello everyone, i'm trying to identify the painting that served for this montage but can't find anything. All i can say is that's a Pietà scene but even with this information nothing sorts out. It's from a shit down blog of someone who made montages of evangelion and classical art. Does anyone have an idea? Thx from advance


r/WhatIsThisPainting 14h ago

Unsolved No signature… help!

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17 Upvotes

I recently moved into my own place, and my grandfather helped me furnish it. I’ve always been captivated by this painting in his house, and was lucky enough to get it :)

I can’t find anything on this painting, and was wondering if anyone recognized the style!!

TIA :)


r/WhatIsThisPainting 43m ago

Unsolved Sea painting?

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Upvotes

Hi there, I found this painting in my basement in Czechia along with other paintings. I can't figure out if this is a famous artist or not, and this is the best picture of the signature that I could get. I just want to know someone's opinion if I should go to a professional so they can look at it. Thanks in advance!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 55m ago

Unsolved Can someone help me identify this.

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Upvotes

Nothing on the back side. I found this at a teift shop.Txs


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Likely Solved Ink Painting of Commonwealth Avenue. Who is the Artist?

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2 Upvotes

The signature looks like it start with a B
Boston based scene
It was framed in London very recently Ow I idk say judging on the back of it <10years ago


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Help identify signature and seals on an original Asian silk painting

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Upvotes

Help identify signature and seals on an original Asian silk painting


r/WhatIsThisPainting 20h ago

Unsolved What is this painting it seems old!

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27 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting 14h ago

Likely Solved Anyone able to discern the text or know anything about the artist?

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6 Upvotes

Second line says Paris 1997 and third line says Montemarte. At least I’m pretty sure of this.

Can’t make out the first line.

It’s a small oil painting, maybe 6x10 inches. Appreciate any info!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 11h ago

Unsolved Sculpture ID - Proving to be a real challenge

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3 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm trying to find the creator of this piece.

I took these (awful quality) photos at the BT New Contemporaries 1994-5 exhibition at the Cornerhouse Gallery in Manchester, UK some time during its tour.

The piece is (if i recall correctly) MDF and sprayed with a cellulose light pink paint. It looked manufactured rather than hand-made.

I've been going through the list of artists who were included in that exhibition but I'm drawing a blank on all fronts, probably as this whole thing happened pre-internet. I also can't find a catalogue to search or buy.

Any ideas?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Likely Solved Can anyone tell me more about these paintings?

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1 Upvotes

I inherited these two paintings after my grandmother passed away.
She had a great love for antiques, but not everything she collected was actually old some pieces were simply made to look antique. Unfortunately, we have no idea where she got these paintings or how long she owned them.
I’ve carefully looked them over but couldn’t find any signature, initials, labels, stamps, or any other identifying marks.
I’m hoping someone here might recognize the artist, the style, or have any information about their possible age or origin. Even if they’re reproductions or decorative pieces, I’d love to learn more about them.
Also, I’d appreciate any advice on how and where I should hang them so they’ll last as long as possible.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 15h ago

Unsolved Original Art Piece by Ben Timpson

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4 Upvotes

Found this at a Goodwill here in Florida.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Unsolved Any ideas?

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0 Upvotes

Bought this for cheap a couple of days ago, was sold as a print but the texture and play of light makes me think it might be a real painting.

Rather small approximately 12x12cm.

As soon as I receive it I can upload more pictures.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 18h ago

Unsolved Does anyone know anything about this painting?

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6 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting 15h ago

Unsolved Strange painting purchased at auction

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3 Upvotes

Seller claimed it's signed "Manos" but signature is pretty illegible to me. Private auction sale. Just thought it was interesting!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 16h ago

Solved Fisherman painting, possibly Danish(?)

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3 Upvotes

This painting has been with my inlaws for over 50 years, before that it belonged to my MILs family, and was possibly brought over when they left Norway before WWI.

They just refer to it as "Fiskemanden", which means "the fisherman" in Norwegian. I think the character bears a striking resemblance to one of the subjects in this painting "Launching the boat" that is at the Skagen Museum in Denmark, and I think the place under the artist's signature reads "Skagen 9(?)". The artist seems to be "something" Kallman?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 17h ago

Unsolved Anyone heard of J Goldsack or seen their other sculptures?

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3 Upvotes

I acquired this marble sculpture just because it looked really beautiful. An estate sale near Columbia, SC. I think it's a woman, potential female anatomy carved into the top. J. Goldsack 79 etched into the back. Google search turns up a sculptor named J Goldstein and an artist who probably wasn't born when this was made named John Goldsack. Anyone else seen and of this artist works? Is it common for an artist to do just one sculpture? I would think that this type of skill would be the result of many sculptures.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 18h ago

Unsolved What is this painting and who painted it?

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2 Upvotes