Fakes in the Haitian art market!
August 28th, 2007 by 
Ruth
We want to draw your attention to a problem that has become very serious for all collectors of Haitian art…forgeries!
We look at Ebay on a regular basis and see many paintings for sale that are obviously fake! These are put on the net by individuals as well as “dealers” with websites, at prices for that are truly ridiculously low. When a painting sells for a price that is too good to be true, it is time to become suspicious. These “fakes” hurt everyone…the legitimate dealers, the artists whose work is devalued, and the collector, who now owns a worthless painting.
Recently we had dinner with a very well-know Haitian artist and he told us about the “Haitian mafia,” a group of unscrupulous people in Haiti that are hiring young artists to produce these fakes. Unfortunately, Haiti has not done anything to stop these people and we see no sign of this changing in the near future.
The artist went even further when he saw a forgery of one of his paintings on Ebay. He asked the gallery that was selling the painting to remove it because he didn’t paint it and he didn’t want it sold with his name on it. The gallery never responded to him and the fake painting was sold to an unsuspecting customer.
Unfortunately, the art world has its share of disreputable people and wise buyers need to be careful when contemplating a purchase. When purchasing, know your source.
WE STAND BEHIND EVERY PAINTING THAT WE SELL!
Posted in Haiti, Haitian Art, Art | 
September 10th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Don’t people realize that “if it’s too good to be true, it usually is”
September 14th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Buying ANYTHING on ebay is looking for trouble.
September 21st, 2007 at 5:38 am
Be careful of Duffaut paintings painted after 2000. I’ve heard they are painted by his students.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:08 pm
What about all those fake Bresils selling for around $300 or $400 on ebay..what a joke! Suckers!
September 24th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
How can anyone buy Haitian art on ebay-it’s either junk or fake.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Last year I purchased 2 Bresil paintings on ebay for a great price. A few weeks ago, I decided to turn the paintings into cash and brought them into a Haitian art dealer here in Miami. I could not believe it when I was told they were fakes. I contacted the seller and he denies it. I will never buy from ebay again.
September 27th, 2007 at 7:15 am
There’s a 12×16 Bresil on ebay for $150 right now (item #150165272188). Waddaya think, real or fake?
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Someone just bought the Bresil for $289. He should have spent the money on wallpaper.
October 5th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I’m glad I found your blog. I am a legitimate ebay dealer. I sell Haitian paintings. I do not deal in fakes but try to give buyers real value at a decent price. How can we get rid of the several “dealers” that consistently sell fakes on ebay? Their ridiculously low prices are putting me out of business and destroying the Haitian art market. Do the buyers of their paintings really think they are getting a good deal? They’re just being taken for a ride. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. PEOPLE WAKE UP!
October 10th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Having purchased a number of paintings from yourself this is saddening.
Haitian art has so much to offer that if these street vendors are that good it would be great if they had the support to develop their own style and talent for commercial gain.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Missed your chance to buy a “real” Bresil? Well, you can try again. Check out ebay item #150171125476/8×20 for $140. I’m sure some sucker will buy it.
October 15th, 2007 at 6:39 am
How about a “decorative” Ismael that “may have been painted by one of his better students” only to be re-sold down the road as an authentic Ismael. Check out ebay item #150171128951 to see what I’m talking about.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Enough of this negativism! Only a fool would buy on ebay. I have purchased several paintings from you guys and have been extremely happy with my purchases. You guys are great and when I buy from you I do not worry about all the garbage about fakes.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:45 am
What a deal! An “authentic” Bresil for $155 (see ebay item #150171125476). Next this guy will sell “authentic” Andre Pierre’s for $250—–whoops, he already has!
October 19th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
As one that has been selling art on ebay for some time I can tell you first hand that the so called “experts” are not always as smart as think. I had paintings by a Haitian artist that this dealer said were probably fake. Things changed after I said that I met the artist at his home and bought there. I even offered pictures of the artist with his work. Of course not every person out there goes to Haiti or has been over the last few years but when it comes to the Bresil’s and Ismael’s take your pick in Petionville. They are all over the place for peanuts. And the Pierre’s are on there way for sure. So before you start painting everyone with a broad brush ……
October 20th, 2007 at 6:46 am
KJ…no one says EVERY painting on ebay is fake. However, fact…many are. The fact that there are Bresil and Ismael paintings all over Petionville does not make them real…fakes are all over the place too. Everyone knows that Ismael paintings are signed by his former students. Just because they are all over the place does not make them authentic.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
KJ your missing the point. All those Bresil and Ismael paintings all over Petion-ville are the fakes. THAT IS THE PROBLEM!!!
October 20th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
That was part of my point.
October 20th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
I know that they are fakes. That is why I have never bought one and never will. If you read about the Ismael paintings that are sold frequently on ebay by some guy out of Canada, he indicates that they are from a church basement in PAP. Well, how many were in that basement? Do the math.
October 24th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Escuse my inglish i am Haitian. What abut the guy selling all the cheep bresil pantings on ebay. He must have a large basment to.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:53 am
why duz this guy do this. He is not helping Haiti he is making it wors.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I am an American of Haitian descent. I cannot understand why someone who is apparently Haitian can sell paintings that are probably fake. All he is doing is hurting the country and our people. Even if they aren’t fake (and I sincerely doubt that), how can he sell paintings so cheaply that the artists cannot make any money.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:57 am
I HAVE an original D.Raymond Joseph painting. My uncle,born in Italy, collected paintings from all over the world. When he died, everything came to me.
My only known avenue to sell some of this stuff is EBAY. I wouldn’t know how to price them…as I have several painting from Italy. Where would I start if NOT Ebay. My thinking “was” put them on there and they would rise to the correct price and we would all win. Wrong?
November 5th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I recently saw a Sejourne on sale on ebay by the same “dealer” (yeah, right) who sells the cheap Bresils. I decided to write to him about the provenance of the painting (ebay #150177125760). This “dealer” told me that the painting was authenticated by Jean Paul Sejourne, Bernard’s brother. Doesn’t this guy know that the problem with Sejourne paintings is that his brother signed Bernard’s name and then claimed they were by Bernard. This guy is either stupid or has no knowlege of Haitian art and should not be selling the art.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:45 am
i haitien. Why do hatiens hurt other hatiens by seling junk. gred?
November 12th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
This discussion is unnecessary. Just buy from you guys (the way I have for the last 5 years) and you know you’re getting the real thing.
November 13th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Mary S, I second your statement. Been buying from Medalia for 6 or 7 years…why bother trying to figure out if an ebay seller is a crook or not.
November 18th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Ebay number 150184837287…this seller has NO conscience… an Andre Pierre 18×22 for $300. He probably paid $25 on the streets of Haiti. Another fake. Sad for Haiti and Haitian art.
November 18th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
i’d like to see this seller comment on this.. he is haitian.. a teacher.. a painter.. and sells haitian art.. while i am sure there are tons of fakes out there.. id be surprised he is one of the people selling them
November 19th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Ebay buyer, I am a collector of FINE Haitian art. Legitimate 18×22 Andre Pierre paintings go for $2500 and up. When someone sells one for $300, do you think it is a legitimate painting? Cmon, think!
November 19th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Defending someone who sells an Andre Pierre for $300…that’s a joke!
November 20th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
As much as I appreciate this discussion, it has become clear that the wheels continue to spin. Hence, the real question to be answered is: Who is Lionel St. Eloi? Therein is the answer to Haitian art. Not dissimilar from John Gault?
November 21st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I don’t know who John Gault is, but I sure know a fake Andre Pierre when I see one.
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:59 am
John Gault is a character in the novel ‘Atlas Shrugged’, by Ayn Rand. In a recent auction that featured paintings from the Jonathan Demme collection, a large Andre Pierre went for $1300, well below market value - fake or bargain? Obviously a low, low asking price should ring the alarm bells, but if the guy selling cheap Bresil and Pierre on eBay was asking thousands rather than hundreds, would the bells still ring? If you take the price element out of the equation, just how do you spot a ‘good’ fake? Any chance of a ‘Tutorial’ page appearing on this site (or maybe on the Haitian Art Society site) showing examples of known fakes, or signs to look for? Maybe give a voice to those living artists who are seeing their own works being forged.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Paul…
You’re missing the point. It’s the SOURCE of the painting, not the PRICE of the painting. Many (not all) sellers on ebay are crooks.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:12 am
We love a lively debate! Please see my latest comments at http://www.medalia.net/haitiblog/.
We are closing this thread and continuing it at “Fakes in the Haitian art market - part 2.” Thanks for all the great input, we look forward to you continuing this discussion.