Van Gogh Museum Rejects 'Elimar' as Authentic

A painting titled 'Elimar,' purchased for $50 at a Minnesota garage sale, has been claimed by New York-based LMI Group International to be an authentic Vincent van Gogh, valued at $15 million. Despite a detailed investigation backing their claim, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has repeatedly dismissed this assertion, maintaining that the painting is not an original Van Gogh based on stylistic features and a prior evaluation in 2019. The LMI Group spent $30,000 on analysis, focusing on brush strokes and inscriptions, but the museum, holding the largest collection of Van Gogh's work, has the final authority on such authentications. The museum's consistent stance reflects skepticism from the broader art community, despite the painting's examination by a team of 20 experts from diverse backgrounds. The Van Gogh Museum's decision is seen as definitive, given its expertise and the detailed knowledge it possesses about Van Gogh's oeuvre.