the Van Meegeren case

The Van Meegeren case involved Dutch painter Han van Meegeren, who became famous for forging and selling fake Old Master paintings. His most notorious crime was creating a counterfeit Vermeer, which he sold for a large sum, fooling experts. During World War II, he sold a forged Vermeer to a Nazi official, leading to accusations of collaborating with the Germans. To prove his innocence and avoid prison, Van Meegeren confessed that he had forged the artwork himself, revealing his skill in detecting genuine art. His case highlights issues of art forgery, authenticity, and the complexities of wartime morality.