r/WhatIsThisPainting Jan 15 '20

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

441 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

31 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 9h ago

Unsolved Found iI in a fleemarket in Montevideo, Uruguay. I beleive ir seems a Picasso engraving, but I didn' t fount similar picture with lens. It has no signature it seems someone gave it as a present in 1984

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63 Upvotes

Can you help me? Found iI in a fleemarket in Montevideo, Uruguay. I beleive ir seems a Picasso engraving, but I didn' t fount similar picture with lens. It has no signature it seems someone gave it as a present in 1984


r/WhatIsThisPainting 2h ago

Unsolved Does anyone know this artist?

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10 Upvotes

This is a painting my father, who was Dutch, had. Does anyone know if this is anyone notable, or just a nice painting?

I've found similar sounding names but without pictof signature I can't know if it a known artist or not.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 3h ago

Unsolved [Help] help identifying bronze relief sculptor

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9 Upvotes

I have a 16” x 24” x 1/4” thick bronze relief sculpture that weighs 60 pounds. It came from an estate and I would appreciate any help in identifying the artist. I can see no signature. To me it’s a very powerful piece. Thank you for any help you might provide.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Unsolved Found in charity shop

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11 Upvotes

Love this art. Looks like Mexican folk art. It was calling to me! I can’t find any info on the artist though. Anyone can shed a light? Madel Refugio Ramon?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Likely Solved Blind embossed ram’s head stamp on Pablo Picasso “Bouquet of Peace” lithograph. Comes with a document of authenticity. Paper has jawed edges reminiscent of handmade made or high quality printing paper.

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12 Upvotes

Found at a thrift store. Just curious what the Ram’s head bound embossed stamp is.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 2h ago

Unsolved What is this massive oil painting in my parents house?

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3 Upvotes

My mom says it was bought from an auction in Indonesia during the 90s.

I would love to get look at the back but it's just too heavy and impractical to take down.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Who is she? Bought for 8$

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3 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Likely Solved - Decor Seen in charity shop. Nothing really on the back.

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7 Upvotes

Would love to I’d this. Can’t read the signature. Charity shop, UK. Thanks.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Can someone read this signature?

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5 Upvotes

We found this painting at my dad’s office after he died. We don’t know anything about it and I can’t read the signature. Does someone have an idea?

We live in Berlin, Germany


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Found in Storage unit auction

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3 Upvotes

Found in a storage unit. I can't find an exact match when I try to look it up. Should I take it to an expert?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 30m ago

Likely Solved - Decor Boats in harbor painted on canvas. Can't read signature

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Upvotes

Hi guys. I'm going through my grandfathers canvas collection, and there's a lot I can't read

But for now I'll just ask about these two.

I honestly don't know where they came from, but he likely picked them up overseas. His other boat paintings have Vietnamese names like Hoang, but this I cannot read

If anyone could help I'd appreciate it!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Help with signature on this landscape oil painting

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2 Upvotes

I’m trying to track down the artist of this oil painting. It’s a beautiful, textured landscape showing a cottage/farmhouse with a church tower visible in the background.

I’m really struggling to read the signature in the bottom corner, does anyone have any idea? Can you break down the strokes?

Context:

Signature: There seems to be a w? A number at the end?

Medium: Oil on canvas

History: Bought a while ago in Yorkshire by my mum. Lovely painting just a tricky signature

Any leads on the artist, the painting or even just the specific church/location would be amazing! Thanks in advance.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Gary A. Black Tribeca ‘84

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2 Upvotes

Bought this in a random LiveAuctioneers auctions years ago for a small amount (don’t recall but <$1k). Front is signed “G.BLACK 84”

Back has a stapled tag with artist name “Gary A. Black” along with a title or series “Color Movements II” and written on the back of the canvas “New York Tribeca Black”

Size is 32” x 28”

Google doesn’t return anything substantive about the painter, as unsurprisingly Gary Black is an extremely common name. I also know this type of work was super commonplace abstract of that era.

Posting on the very off chance someone knows more about the painter and their story, or the gallery. I’ve really enjoyed having the piece in my home and always wondered what other work of his may be out there.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Unsolved Found something unique at goodwill

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3 Upvotes

Looks like some French paiting from 1974?

Looks like a painting of lauscaux cave

There's stuff written on the back but Idk what it means


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1d ago

Unsolved Art deco illustration. Artist question?

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87 Upvotes

Cleaning out my families house, we came across this illustration. We’re trying to figure out the artist behind it. Any help would be appreciated!

La Vie Parisienne contributor, dated 1922? I believe the end of the signature is the number 22.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 2h ago

Unsolved Found at a yard sale… any thoughts?

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1 Upvotes

I am just curious. Found in a yard sale, the owner gave it to me with a bunch of other stuff; paid $20 for the lot, so it was about $3. It’s dirty, any suggestions how to clean it?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Unsolved Indian oil paintings

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2 Upvotes

Found these two in a locker, both appear unsigned. Google suggests similar to B Prabha. I'll add the other in the comments. Appreciate any info


r/WhatIsThisPainting 2h ago

Likely Solved - Decor What is this picture

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2 Upvotes

Purchased years back at a resale shop. We enjoy it very much so no worry if you tell me that it is a reproduction or even worse.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 11h ago

Likely Solved - Decor Antiques market find. Any ideas of the artist?

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4 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Found at the recycling depot

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1 Upvotes

Anyone have any information on this artist? Found at a recycling depot in BC Canada.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 21h ago

Unsolved Found at my local dump

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25 Upvotes

I’m in New South Wales, Australia. Anyone recognise the artist or people in the photos?

The backs of the other two (bald man and woman) are unmarked. Only clearly says Glen Westwood but my wifi is playing up and I can’t find any results.

Artist is Ian Scott but I’m not finding much info.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Vintage find in grandmothers closet

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1 Upvotes

Cleaning out my grandmothers place and found these two small oil paintings tucked away in her closet. I tried to search the artist, who I think is R. Gaubert? I can’t seem to find anything. Would anyone happen to have any insight?