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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed and remove this painting?

118 replies

linslime · 02/08/2022 22:23

friend is an artist (not for money or anything, but she went to art college and enjoys dabbling when she has time around the kids) and for my birthday last month gave me a beautiful painting.

Bro and newish girlfriend were round for dinner recently and she said ‘oh I saw that painting at [art related event] and considered buying it’. I said ‘oh I didn’t buy it, friend painted it for me’ and she looked at me strangely and said oh maybe I’m mistaken etc.

when they left I googled a few key words plus our city and found the REAL artist. Friend has copied the artist’s painting pretty much brushstroke by brushstroke and passed it off as her own. I did consider that maybe she bought the painting from this artist and pretended she’d painted it but on close examination it’s not exactly the same. But a clear copy. She’s signed the corner etc.

i don’t know why I’m so annoyed. I think because I felt like an idiot in front of visitors who knew the original existed yet I insisted ‘no no that’s my friend’s work’. If she’d told me she’d copied it I would still be a bit ‘hmm’ but at least I would know.

AIBU to not want it hanging in my lounge?

OP posts:
Idontthink · 02/08/2022 22:33

Did she say it’s her version of X work or just blathering on about her inspiration being A and B

StoneofDestiny · 02/08/2022 22:33

If it's a nice painting, hang it in a nice place. She has given her time to do it for you!

Discovereads · 02/08/2022 22:37

YABU
Its a time honoured practice for artists to copy other artists as a way to learn art and perfect skills. She’s not done a forgery as she’s signed her name to it. She’s not “passed it off as her own” as she’s not sold it as an original work of art.

Shes done nothing wrong.

BMW6 · 02/08/2022 22:40

I'd be OK with it if she hadn't signed it. She has copied it and is making it look like it's her own work (yes I know she painted it, but it's a fake).

I'd either give it back to her (on the grounds above) or destroy it.

I am very uncomfortable with blatant plagiarism

PasswordProtection · 02/08/2022 22:43

Are you sure she isnt the original artist under a pseudonym ?

Dammitthisisshit · 02/08/2022 22:45

I voted yabu as you loved the painting before you knew so you shouldn’t take it down, a beautiful picture is still a beautiful picture.
that doesn’t make it right that she passed the work off as her own, but are you sure you didn’t misinterpret? She did paint it for you, so unless she’s deliberately misled you by telling you some story like ‘her inspiration was blah blah’ then it’s not a lie.

Lindy2 · 02/08/2022 22:47

She took the time and effort to do a painting for you. I think that's a nice thing to do and it seems like you like the painting.

Nothing's changed. She used an existing painting to copy to make her picture but I don't see the issue. She still painted it. It's her work. Loads of artists copy popular paintings.

olympicsrock · 02/08/2022 22:49

I don’t have a problem with it unless there was a fake story about her inspiration etc

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 02/08/2022 22:51

You’re being very silly and quite ungrateful. The time that went into creating that for you is more meaningful than if it were an original or not. You sound pretentious not wanting it hanging on your wall anymore because it’s a copy of another painting. Just say yo your brothers girlfriend that she was right it wasn’t an original but your friend painted a copy as she thought (rightly) that you’d like it.

gardenofweedin · 02/08/2022 22:51

You said yourself it's a beautiful painting. Your friend did paint it. I can't imagine taking it down, under the circumstances. If this other person ever brings it up again, you can explain the situation (your friend copied the painting as practice, and you didn't know that the last time you spoke), but is that likely?

Anyway, why should you feel strange about it? You didn't lie to this person. What would have been the point of lying? Just forget about it.

Buythebag · 02/08/2022 22:51

I'd probably think that was funny tbh. Maybe she saw the original and thought you'd like it so had a bash at doing one herself? I don't really get why you're so upset.

LadyCampanulaTottington · 02/08/2022 22:51

But it’s normal for artists to duplicate other artists work. Why do you think experts take years to decide which artist painted certain works when they’re not signed?

Pleasecouldihavesomeadvice · 02/08/2022 22:52

But it is her work. She painted it and spent time on the piece.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 02/08/2022 22:57

I have a water colour painting on my wall that DH bought from a local exhibition. Someone commented that they had seen one like it and we discovered that it was actually a copy of/homage to someone else. I still love it though.

Original poster
linslime · 02/08/2022 22:58

olympicsrock · 02/08/2022 22:49

I don’t have a problem with it unless there was a fake story about her inspiration etc

there sort of was. Not about her inspiration etc but when I said oh wow I love it, it’s perfect coming from you (it’s of a local place we spent a lot of time at as students) she said something like ‘yes I knew you’d love it because of our memories there’.

i didn’t realise copying and passing off as your own was normal for artists

OP posts:
Discovereads · 02/08/2022 22:58

BMW6 · 02/08/2022 22:40

I'd be OK with it if she hadn't signed it. She has copied it and is making it look like it's her own work (yes I know she painted it, but it's a fake).

I'd either give it back to her (on the grounds above) or destroy it.

I am very uncomfortable with blatant plagiarism

That’s not how it works with art, if you don’t sign it with your name, you’ve done a forgery. You’re supposed to sign a copy.

Popvan · 02/08/2022 22:59

You have an original piece of artwork copied or not. It takes a long time to paint a picture and even if you pay her £200 it probably still wouldn't be worth her time in doing it for you.
She probably thought you would like it and copied it, you never knew the difference anyway.

It's not like it was a painting of the Mona Lisa and when you took it to auction, you realised you wouldn't be able to buy that castle you had your eye on because it was a fake.

Original poster
linslime · 02/08/2022 23:00

BMW6 · 02/08/2022 22:40

I'd be OK with it if she hadn't signed it. She has copied it and is making it look like it's her own work (yes I know she painted it, but it's a fake).

I'd either give it back to her (on the grounds above) or destroy it.

I am very uncomfortable with blatant plagiarism

I won’t give it back or chuck it out or anything, it just annoys me every time I walk past it for some reason! but as others have said, apparently copying is normal for artists. It’s just a bit close to home exactly copying an artist who lives within a few miles of us

OP posts:
Discovereads · 02/08/2022 23:01

linslime · 02/08/2022 22:58

there sort of was. Not about her inspiration etc but when I said oh wow I love it, it’s perfect coming from you (it’s of a local place we spent a lot of time at as students) she said something like ‘yes I knew you’d love it because of our memories there’.

i didn’t realise copying and passing off as your own was normal for artists

Show quote history

But she’s not “passing it off as her own”

Shes done a copy, which is a time honoured tradition amongst artists
Shes signed it with her name, which is the proper thing to do with a copy otherwise you’ve done a forgery.
The copy is still her work.

awwbiscuits · 02/08/2022 23:01

I couldn't get too mad about it. She's not a professional artist, does it around her kids etc, hasn't made any money from it. She probably saw it, thought 'ah op would like that because it's of x' and painted you a version. It's still a nice painting she's done for you as a gift.

Original poster
linslime · 02/08/2022 23:01

PasswordProtection · 02/08/2022 22:43

Are you sure she isnt the original artist under a pseudonym ?

definitely not, I’ve met the original artist at events

OP posts:
notanicepersonapparently · 02/08/2022 23:03

It's absolutely not normal for artists to copy others work except for practice to improve their technique. Most galleries would not accept such work for sale or exhibition. The copy should be signed as ,'after T Smith (being the original artists name). I can understand why you are disappointed op.

milkyaqua · 02/08/2022 23:03

Next time someone comments on your painting, tell them it was painted by a friend, inspired by another artwork, and done of a place that had special meaning for you. It just sounds so snobby to be concerned that it's been recognised as 'not the original' by some other painter, who I have to assume is not actually Rembrandt.

Original poster
linslime · 02/08/2022 23:05

milkyaqua · 02/08/2022 23:03

Next time someone comments on your painting, tell them it was painted by a friend, inspired by another artwork, and done of a place that had special meaning for you. It just sounds so snobby to be concerned that it's been recognised as 'not the original' by some other painter, who I have to assume is not actually Rembrandt.

Yes fair enough, I realise she’ll have spent a lot of time on it. I think my annoyance comes from not knowing it wasn’t an original rather than it not being an original

OP posts:
Stickworm · 02/08/2022 23:05

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