r/WhatIsThisPainting Jan 15 '20

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

439 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

34 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 2h ago

Likely Solved Warhols Given By Late Family Friend

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64 Upvotes

I had a family friend pass away, he was about 70 years old. His house was always decorated with vintage collectibles, art, very eclectic style.

I was left these two pieces. I’m not sure what they are, how to find out, or what to do with them. There are no print numbers. I haven’t opened the backs yet, maybe I should. If anyone is knowledgeable and would share some advice, I’d greatly appreciate it.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Can anyone identify this drawing or artist? Found in my grandfather’s estate

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19 Upvotes

I found this drawing in my grandfather’s estate about 10 years ago. It has been stored in my attic ever since, and I’ve recently become curious about what it actually is.

I don’t know who the artist is or when it was painted, but I see “1507” in the bottom drawing and maybe the signature reads “C (or a?) witterer?”

There are no markings, labels or inscriptions on the back. The painting seems to be attached to a backing board, possibly glued.

Any help identifying the artist, approximate age, or origin would be greatly appreciated. If there are specific details or photos that would help, I’m happy to provide them.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 10h ago

Likely Solved Ink-drawn anthropomorphic monkeys

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28 Upvotes

Hello, I have this collage of three small drawings of monkeys acting like humans.

It was given to me by my parents, and found among a bunch of random old stuff during a move.

There are two initials D.C. at the bottom right of the largest drawing.

I don't have pics of the back as they are glued onto cardboard.

I know the singerie theme has a long history, but I'd like to see if I can date or locate these drawings' origin a bit better with your help.

Northern Italy.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Possible Olga Winsinger-Florian Painting?

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6 Upvotes

I bought this from the UK because I genuinely like it, but also under the suspicion it could be by Olga Winsinger-Florian, an Austrian impressionist painter that was prolific in the late 19th century and early 20th.

When I received it the other day I noticed that the back tag directly glued to the canvas was recycled paper, so I flipped the image and can see German, which tells me it could be Austrian in origin. The signature is a bit messy or maybe even damaged, but I can see a definite “ian” maybe even “rian”, but that could just be my own optimistic bias. Her signature through the years varied, from being very neat and other times more printed and abbreviated.

I noticed that Olga W Florian started her career in painting with more realism, and delved deeper into Impressionism as she developed, repainting some subjects. She did have a more realistic painting of lilies with a fence in the back, perhaps this was a later work reworking the same subject?

This has been previously restretched and reframed (80s yellow Irish framer label is present), so only the canvas is original.

Let me know if you think I might be on to something, or if maybe I’m too optimistic. I love it either way, but if it is an important work I would like to hang it somewhere in my home where it can be best preserved.

Thanks for your help!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 21h ago

Unsolved $100 painting by James E. Wilbar- Thousands in restoration costs.

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120 Upvotes

I picked up this piece at auction for $100, what stood out was the Baumgartner Restoration sticker on the back. I’m at a loss how a painting that sold for $100 had a restoration job that was easily in the thousands of dollars.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Unknown Origin of Painting Grandmother Bought in Israel Between 1948 - Early 1950s

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Upvotes

UPDATED (9/1): Now includes pictures of the back of the frame.

My grandmother bought this from a Czechoslovakian family in 1948 when she moved to Haifa, Israel when the country was first established. She brought it to the US when she moved here with my Mom and Aunt in 1960.

From research my Mom has done, it looks like the artist is possibly John Frederick Engle but not sure.

Measurements w.out Frame: 51 in x 36.5 in (129.5 cm x 93 cm)

Measurements w. Frame: 60 in x 46 in (152 cm x 117 cm)


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Unsolved Any idea who the artist is?

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7 Upvotes

This artwork was donated to my nonprofit to be part of a silent auction, but we don’t know who the artist is. It looks like an E and then something ending in -ight but I’m not sure. It’s signed so I don’t think it’s simply decor.
Just trying to get some information on the artist!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Looking for a painting

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5 Upvotes

I'm looking to find a painting I saw a while back. It's of a guy with long ish red/ginger hair looking out a window at night (in france?). It uses muted warm colours.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Unsolved Found in NW Suburbs of Chicago

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7 Upvotes

This was a thrift store find. I think it’s an original oil portrait. I found some information regarding a portrait artist named Lavin. The signatures look different though. Thanks for your time and input!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Likely Solved Thrift store poster, is this a known Picasso work?

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Upvotes

Just want to know if this is a Picasso drawing or a fake


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Solved Who is this famous painting of? Driving me crazy

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4 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting 0m ago

Unsolved Any Ideas on this Interesting Piece?

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Upvotes

I found this at an antique market near Atlanta, GA several months ago. It has since become a major focal point for my bedroom wall.

I’ve tried reverse image search the image and artist name but have been unsuccessful.
I’m under the assumption it’s just some unknown amateur artist but thought I’d post here to see if anyone know anything about it.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1d ago

Unsolved 20th century New York painter named Wagner?

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153 Upvotes

Inherited this piece which was probably purchased in Westchester County in the 1970s.

Signature is Wagner and there is a reference to Bonnerville or Boonville on one of the crates.

Anyone know who this is?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 35m ago

Unsolved Any information on this painting

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Upvotes

Hello!
My grandad has given me this painting he inherited years ago, to see if I can find out any information of it. From what I can tell it’s an old oil painting of the river wye. It was pit onto the frame (I believe) by W.Morrill Liner

I can’t find a signature but it may be hidden under the frame which I don’t yet want to take off

Thank you 😊


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Need help identifying this piece of art

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Upvotes

This, I believe, charcoal print was my father’s and I remember it hanging in the house around the mid 1960’s. I remember being mesmerized by it and it’s spooky quality. At the time of my father’s passing we were estranged and I had forgotten about it until his condo went on the market and there was a picture of it. This picture must have meant a lot to him because it traveled from house to house, from the 60’s until his death in 2023. I would really love to know about this print. I know he traveled a bit, mostly Great Britian and he worked in Philadelphia in the 60s. I’m sorry the photo is bad and I don’t have the back or a signature. Would anyone have an idea about this picture? I’ve searched everywhere and haven’t come close to the look or style. This is my hail Mary. Thank you for your time.

 


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Question on My Immendorf Paintings

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Upvotes

Hi,

I bought these 3 decades ago.

They were hanged in my house for all of this time.

I would like to know if there's a market for selling these?

I have one other far larger museum piece immendorf which I currently don't have a picture of since it's at another family members home


r/WhatIsThisPainting 9h ago

Solved My mum had this Rothko print circa 2000.

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4 Upvotes

The print went missing a long time ago, this is the only evidence of it I can find, and it only shows the bottom half. The picture is taken of a home video still, so the colours are off and the image is slightly blurred (and possibly upside down), so any help at all would be appreciated. It was bought from the Tate modern in London.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved I need to find the artist of my painting.

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Upvotes

I found this art in a storage storage, I need to know who its author is. Thank you very much for helping me


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Please help me identify this painting that hung in my grandparents' house

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Upvotes

All I have are these two incredibly blurry images cropped from larger photos; I'm so sorry.

The subject is a little girl with curly, blond hair, wearing a white nightgown, walking downstairs with one hand on an ornate metal railing. She is smiling at the viewer. The girl is holding a doll under one arm and another doll sits on the stairs at her feet. Off to the left is a very small dog.

This painting (presumably a print) hung in my grandparents' living room from at least the late '80s until their deaths in the late 2010s. They most likely purchased it in New Jersey, but I don't know when or from where. I remember thinking it looked Victorian, but of course I could be wrong. I always loved the painting, but never thought to ask any questions about it. It's long gone now and I regret not speaking up to ask for it...not that it would go with my furniture or decor at all. At this point, I'd just love to see a clear image of it again.

These pictures are not mirrored or rotated at all. I have no memory of what the signature said, if there was one, nor do I know what might have been on the back. I have tried reverse image searches (Google and Tineye) with no luck. I've also tried googling many variations on "painting girl stairs nightgown dolls dog", but I've never managed to find it. I'm just hoping someone here will recognize it. Again, I'm sorry I don't have a better picture of the painting, and thanks in advance to anyone who tries!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 2h ago

Unsolved Help identifying this signed 21×30 screenprint on canvas?

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0 Upvotes

Picked this up at a moving sale and I’m trying to figure out exactly what I have.

It measures 21 × 30 inches and appears to be a multi-layer/color screenprint directly on stretched canvas. It’s mounted on wooden stretcher bars inside a separate black outer frame. There’s a large signature in what looks like Sharpie on the back of the canvas.

Google Lens is pointing me toward Chuck Sperry / Tower of Babel Paradiso, and the image certainly looks like a match, but I’m hoping someone here can independently identify it and tell me whether this is an original artist-produced screenprint, an edition, reproduction, etc.

Anyone recognize the piece, signature, or construction? Especially interested in figuring out exactly what version/edition this is.

Thanks!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Unsolved Brutalist

2 Upvotes

does any one have any ideas on the artist.

1938

r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Unsolved Looking for info on Valerie Jacobson painting

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2 Upvotes

Looking for a piece of art that was lost sometime around 2013.

Title: "WALKING IN THE RAIN"

Signed either "Valerie Jacobson" or "Valerie Aune Jacobson"

Believed to have been painted in 1991.

Art style: Oil on board

If you've seen this painting, or have any information on where it might be, please let me know!