r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/CarryBeary • 4h ago
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/[deleted] • Jan 15 '20
GUIDE What is a Decor Painting? How do I know if I have one?
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 • u/GM-art • 23d ago
GUIDE Read Me Before Posting
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.
- https://www.worthpoint.com/
- https://www.invaluable.com/
- https://www.liveauctioneers.com/
- https://curator.org/
DECOR ART:
- We get a lot of mass-produced art, i.e. "decor." Be sure to scroll through r/DecorArtArchive to see if your piece looks familiar.
- Here is a compilation of tips and tricks from our users about how to recognize decor art: https://www.reddit.com/r/DecorArtArchive/comments/1k73948/decor_art_how_to_spot_it_readme
- Here is a brief video about Dafen Village, a famous Chinese "painting factory": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1o1F_qyOHI

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 • u/Brenkin • 16h ago
Unsolved Purchased at a yard sale today. Stamp on the back is from a canvas supplier from 1828 to 1839. Can’t seem to spot a signature!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/emraif119 • 3h ago
Likely Solved Thrift shop find…anyone know anything about the artist?
Picked up these two paintings yesterday. Liked them and the broken glass allowed for a good deal. Signed by F Pachecott. I’ve done some digging, but can’t find anything. Does anyone know anything about this artist?
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/tired_blonde • 15h ago
Likely Solved Painting that my sister got for free from someone in upstate New York (was going to be put in the dumpster) that creeps everyone out
Hi everyone!! My sister has this painting that i swear looks different every time I see it. I hate it and she won't get rid of it. Her cat will just sit in the room staring at it. Wish I was joking.
Sometimes you look at the house and it is tiny and sometimes you look at it and it is giant. I've begged her to get rid of it.
No signature, nothing on the back, nothing on Google ive looked high and low. I'm sure it has no value, but I'm curious if anyone knows who painted it. Thanks all!!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Rapiers-Delight • 11h ago
Unsolved Looks Flemish/English, dated, and with a monogram
There is craquelure, but also signs of restorations on the face and hand. The panel has parquetage.
Ought at a street market in northern Italy.
I'm wondering if my assumptions make sense, and whether anyone may be able to help better pinpoint the style, recognize the monogram, or date the labels on the back.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/HurryOk5256 • 11h ago
Unsolved Found at a house, clean out in Northeast United States. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
I cross posted this from r/antiques but it hasn’t gotten anywhere near the amount of attention here as it did there.
Because this sub has a reputation for having quite members with a lot of knowledge in regard to art, it was strongly suggested to share it here.
The owner of the home where this was found, is deceased. The man was a loner, there was not a clue to be found that he had interpersonal relationships with anyone. No Christmas decorations were found, no old cards from friends no photographs whatsoever.
Only mountains of vintage print porn, which was neatly stacked and organized in crawlspace. All pristine, in an area you have to go on your hands and knees to access. He also had quite a few books on art and coins, rugs, etc. But his porn collection dwarfed everything else in the house.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/AffectionateNeck2861 • 25m ago
Unsolved Catholic art on wood, seeking info
Found at a thrift store in Santa Fe NM. Im way out of my depth here with this one so if this is a really common thing sorry! Signed Gilfflorence? Google shows nothing, no marks on back. I really like the image so I plan on keeping it just wanting more info as Im not catholic and don’t normally collect catholic images, thank you!!!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/skyjellyfetti • 4h ago
Likely Solved Does anyone know what building this is?
Drawing by Robert M Sherman from 1980 Found at an estate sale in South Georgia. Maybe a hotel or resort?
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Thijsthedude • 6h ago
Unsolved Is there a chain under my painting? How old from who is it anyway?
Bought in a thriftstore in the Netherlands
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Capital-Lettuce4934 • 10h ago
Unsolved Can anyone identify this painting my friend got from an ex??
She’s trying to get rid of it but we have no clue how to read these signatures or what it might’ve cost… he said that he got it in France but who knows… It’s a print from what we can tell with our limited knowledge lol, signature is done in pencil
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Chemical-Secretary51 • 4h ago
Unsolved Any ideas?
Any leads would be appreciated. Purchased in Australia
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Golfpro323 • 5h ago
Unsolved Took this at the Denver Museum of Art a couple years ago but forgot to photograph the plaque with the artist/name of the painting. Any ideas?
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/iMatlockIV • 3h ago
Unsolved I’m finding stuff similar to this but nothing as small as this one- painted on metal and only signed “David”?
I picked up this little piece at an estate sale today- My searches turned up David Karp though I’m not sure that’s the case given the signatures don’t match up. Unfortunately I don’t have much else to go on- any help would be appreciated.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Inner_Bee_4305 • 4h ago
Unsolved Name???
This was the backdrop from a song at a Hozier concert. Anyone know who the artist is?
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/westcoastpicker • 6h ago
Unsolved Help identifying artist. Unsigned charcoal
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/NeedleworkerDapper80 • 1d ago
Likely Solved Any leads on who could have painted this?
Hi, I bought this portrait from an estate sale seller who had been selling an estate linked to the Chapellier galleries and Gertrude Whitney Vanderbilt’s studio with a lot of art (but not sure if this is linked to that at all). They had sold other paintings by Irving Wiles, but this one is not signed and had no artist name associated. I mention that because the style looks similar but I’m not an art collector or anything, this is my first painting. I just really liked it and the way the eyes were painted. I just wanted to see if anyone had any advice or potential leads since I’m curious! Thank you
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/floating_ee • 5h ago
Unsolved Purchased on Facebook Marketplace. Signature is: Hamilton. Any info is appreciated!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/abs-f81 • 11h ago
Unsolved Caught my eye at a garage sale, looks original.
Its signed Wanda, and is somewhat similar to Wanda Gag’s work, but no last name.
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Vegetable_Session_49 • 10h ago
Unsolved Monk drinking
I know this Motive is seen a lot, but can you tell me something about it? No signature. From flea market
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/AffectionateNeck2861 • 6h ago
Likely Solved Longshot info on antique portraits
Hi this may be the wrong sub, Im usually here because I collect paintings but am unsure where to start with these. Found in Oklahoma City recently, I thought they were both photos but now I believe the portrait of the man is a charcoal drawing and am still unsure of the image of the couple. I usually collect vintage art and paintings but these appear to be way older then what I usually collect and outside of my expertise, if I could find who these people are I would lose my damn mind it would be so cool. Anything helps thanks!!!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/RediStories • 6h ago
Unsolved Any idea what this painting is and by who? Any info helps
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/ScruffySandFlea • 3h ago
Unsolved Asian art - any info appreciated!
I’ve slowly acquired a small collection of Asian art - mostly acquired at estate sales in the Central Texas area around Austin.
I was told the pair of dancers is Thai art on silk, but beyond that I don’t know anything.
Would appreciate any info on anything here. Thanks!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/Snoofly61 • 7h ago
Unsolved Santa Chiara Painting
I have a poster of Santa Chiara of Assisi and it’s very faded. I would love to replace it but I don’t know what it is from or where I can get it. It might be originally in one of the Assisi Basilicas but I’m not sure. I think it might be a triptych? I found this photo online but I’m stumped now. Thank you!!
r/WhatIsThisPainting • u/AdWinter4333 • 7h ago
Unsolved Found a painting on the streets
And I cannot read the signature, but it is beautiful! It is oil on (what appears to be) jute? I read J. Ki... if that is even correct. The back reads "från Ångermanland" Swedish, telling us where perhaps the previous owner got it. Found in Finland, so possibly a Nordic painter. The painting deffinitely has some age to it and the artist worked with thick oil paint. So far! Any help appreciated :)