Van Gogh: Elimar is really by the Dutch painter?

According to an analysis conducted by the data science company LMI Group, the artwork, titled “Elimar,” could be an authentic painting by Vincent van Gogh, with an estimated value of 15 million dollars.

A painting purchased for less than 50 dollars at a garage sale in Minnesota could be a new discovery in the world of art.

A Hidden Treasure in a Garage

In 2018, a buyer found “Elimar” at a garage sale in Minnesota, paying less than 50 dollars. Suspecting it might be a work of value, they contacted the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for an evaluation.

In 2019, the museum responded that, based on stylistic characteristics, the painting could not be attributed to Van Gogh.

Subsequently, in the same year, the owner sold the work for an undisclosed amount to LMI Group, a data science company based in New York, founded in 2018.

The Technological Analysis of LMI Group

LMI Group has subjected “Elimar” to a thorough scientific and stylistic analysis. The company claims that the painting was created by Van Gogh in 1889, during his stay at the asylum of Saint-Paul in the south of France.

The title “Elimar” refers to a character from the 1848 novel by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Two Baronesses”. However, LMI believes that the painting is actually a self-portrait of the artist.

The Debate on Authenticity

Despite the claims of LMI Group, the Van Gogh Museum has not yet confirmed the attribution. The discovery raises questions about the role of technology in the authentication of artworks.

While scientific analysis can provide valuable insights, the definitive attribution often requires the consensus of the academic community and museum institutions.

Implications for the Art Market

If “Elimar” were recognized as an authentic Van Gogh, it would represent a significant discovery, adding a new work to the artist’s corpus and potentially influencing the art market.

The works of Van Gogh are among the most sought-after and valuable in the world, and a new discovery could spark great interest among collectors and institutions.

The possible discovery of a new Van Gogh painting highlights the challenges and complexities in the authentication of artworks.

While technology offers advanced tools for analysis, official recognition requires a collaborative approach between scientists, art historians, and cultural institutions. It will be interesting to observe how this case evolves and what implications it will have for the art market and the understanding of Van Gogh’s work.

Image: Attributed to Vincent van Gogh, Elimar (1889). Image courtesy LMI Group International, Inc.

Amelia Tomasicchio

As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.

She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.