Authenticating Art: The Process, Valuation, and Importance of Artworks

The overall purpose of this creative project was to explore the implications of art authentication as it relates to the process, valuation, and importance of artworks. The project was presented in the form of a podcast as this type of content is increasingly becoming popularized as a form of strategy in the field of marketing. As content is becoming a new way of experession in this digitial world, it is a new form of art. Because of this, podacasts, as a form of content, nicely reflects a similar manner of expression in modern day as art has for years. The examination, in question, began with the recently authenticated and auctioned Leonardo da Vinci artworks, The Isleworth Mona Lisa and The Salvador Mundi. These works brought on questions regarding the history of forgery, the process of authentication, appraisal, and overall ownership of art. These questions were researched and presented with regards to the works listed above as well as other high-profile examples in order to discuss their insinuations on the modern art market. Overall, properly authenticated work can make an impact on multiple facets of the market which may grant much attention to these situations. Interestingly, much of the processes that are related to art in modern day are quite subjective or unregulated. For example, authentication can be highly influenced by the opinion of experts. Valuation and appraisal are both similar in this sense, as well. Because of this, it is difficult to make any firm judgements concerning the works in question.