Born this day in 1889 – Han van Meegeren, Dutch painter and forger (d. 1947).
He was called one of the most ingenious art forgers of the 20th century.
Art critics decried his youthful work as tired and derivative. So, he turned his attentions toward imitations. It is estimated that van Meegeren duped buyers out of US$30 million in 1967's money, including the government of the Netherlands.
it makes you wonder what he could have accomplished if he had cultivated his own imagination with his great skill and talent.
Perhaps he could have created great art, but he died a pauper.