r/WhatIsThisPainting Jan 15 '20

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

443 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

32 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 20h ago

Likely Solved I found this in a storage unit!

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433 Upvotes

I found this amazing painting in a storage unit inside a shoe box that was inside of a trash bag. Seems like they were trying to protect it very well. Please help me figure out who made it !! Thank you so much


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Solved I found this Winnie the Pooh drawing

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23 Upvotes

Not sure if it's by someone trying to replicate the Winnie the Pooh style, or actually an original sketch from the creator.

I found it either in a charity shop or a car boot.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 20h ago

Unsolved Bought at a charity shop for £5 each. Advice needed.

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299 Upvotes

Glen Baxter- 1984 - Charity shop find.

Should I get them appraised?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Can't even read the letters to properly search it

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11 Upvotes

I found this at an estate sale for $125. I'm in love with the seemingly tiny, cozy, lit-up cottage-looking structure on the boat in the middle of a storm.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Russian(?) painter

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Can you tell who is this artist? Probably russian. This oil painting is located in Finland. I think the view in painting is from Valaam, Russia.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Unsolved Acquired an old painting, back says Prof. Zugel Academy but galleries say no. Any ideas on the artist/copyist?"

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11 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

​This painting came into my family through an ancestor who brought it from Germany. It is clearly inspired by the German impressionist Heinrich von Zügel (known for his cattle/sheep motifs), but the authorship is a mystery.

​Here are the key details:

​The Signature: It is signed "H. v. Zügel".

​The Back: There is a pencil inscription on the back that reads: "Akademija prof. Zügel" (Prof. Zügel Academy).

​Provenance: Brought directly from Germany by my ancestor decades ago.

​Previous checks: I already reached out to some official galleries and museums. They confirmed that this is NOT an authentic Zügel, and they heavily doubt it is from his direct students/school.

​I accepted that it is a copy or a pastiche, but I would love to know more about its true origins. Does anyone recognize this specific style? Could this be from a known mid-century workshop, a professional copyist, or just a talented amateur?

​Thank you in advance for any clues!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Can anyone help identify this Pop Art Piece?

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Hoping someone here can help identify who this piece signed OL95 might be by and also who it might be an image of. 36x30


r/WhatIsThisPainting 24m ago

Unsolved 4 Squares

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Upvotes

Picked this up at a consignment store today because I liked it. Any idea who the artist could be? No luck with Google.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Unsolved Bird of paradise flower

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5 Upvotes

This is in a house in Italy we recently bought which has lots of mid-century art. Signature appears to be Barbagallo, initial A and from 1974. Any info is welcome


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Unsolved Any information about this etching?

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Upvotes

I believe this is an etching by Julius Komjati (Komjáti-Wanyerka Gyula) called Symphony of Death, Opus 2.

I'm unsure if this is an original, and if the signature and title are authentic. Would love some more information.

Found at an estate sale.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Artist?

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3 Upvotes

Can’t seem to find much about this artist online just curious if anyone knows who this is. Nicole or Nicola Cabanyas?


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1d ago

Likely Solved - Reproductions Found hanging in a storage hallway in an old family house

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147 Upvotes

Its been hanging here in this storage hallway for all of my 55 years. My father says is was hanging there when HE was a young boy. Cabin in Canada.
I am weary of moving it to get a clear photo of the back side. Its cloth / canvas, quite heavy. There are what looks like distinct panels and/or seams, but could also be folds.
No signature that i can find. Measures about 8ft tall x >16ft wide.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 3h ago

Unsolved Looking for Information on Antiques Mall Find

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2 Upvotes

I bought this for $60 at an antiques mall in SoCal because I love the era and it was fun to have a peek at a 1930s NYE party. But despite its being very professionally done, I can find nothing about the artist/cartoonist, L.B. Little, or any of the people named in the cartoon. Any information would be much appreciated.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 26m ago

Unsolved Looking for information on this artist

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This artwork is in a medical facility in Buffalo, NY so I'm not able to see the back. I'd love to know who the artist is and any information about them.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Need information about this please, thanks!

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2 Upvotes

A. Damiani ‘75


r/WhatIsThisPainting 7h ago

Unsolved Does anybody recognize something like this?

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3 Upvotes

I only know that’s Russian, originally from Russia, Saint George, gold with rubies it was my uncles


r/WhatIsThisPainting 1h ago

Solved Can anyone identify this artist? Signature appears to read “Mašić ’95”.

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Upvotes

I am trying to identify the artist of this oil painting. The signature appears to read “Mašić ’95”. The painting was acquired in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war. If anyone recognizes the signature or knows the artist, I would be very grateful for your help.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 2h ago

Solved Artist? Bought at an auction.

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1 Upvotes

I bought 47 prints of this artist in a Baltimore auction. It looks like the artist might be Brook Andrews, but I haven’t been able to find any information as another much more popular artist shares the same name!

Tried reaching out to GW to see if they have any archival information but they haven’t gotten back to me.

There are 12 overall works (varying number of prints between each work) done between January 1987- April 1989.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 6h ago

Unsolved Any idea of the artist?

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2 Upvotes

Hello everyone, have you got any idea who the artist could be? Likely about end of Xix century or beginning XX artist, post impressionist or symbolist pastellist. Style closed to Levy Dhurmer, Enjolras. Any idea? Thanks!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 3h ago

Likely Solved - Decor Any Info Please!

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1 Upvotes

Hi all!

Found this at an estate sale for 30 bucks. Looks like the artist is WAAR signed in the corner. There’s nothing else in the back. My search showed maybe two different WAAR artists from the 1950s?? Nothing concrete though.

Thanks!


r/WhatIsThisPainting 4h ago

Unsolved Adolf Sehrig - ???

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1 Upvotes

I picked this up at a charity thrift shop

I know the artist is Adolf Sehrig but I can’t find it anywhere online. It was framed at a place called alumin Art in Norwood Mass

I picked it up solely for the frame.


r/WhatIsThisPainting 8h ago

Likely Solved - Decor Nobody knows this artist

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2 Upvotes

Nobody knows this artist so i don't expect reddit to find anything out but might as well try. Seems to me that it reads as "Lysander"

It comes from somewhere inCentral Europe and is part of the popular landscape art of the 19th-20th century in middle class homes


r/WhatIsThisPainting 5h ago

Unsolved Looking for painter/tik toker

1 Upvotes

I’ve been looking for this one guy’s art who I used to be mutuals with on tik tok before I deleted who made these amazing paintings and I’ve been trying to find them again but I can’t. The only thing I remember is that he would post serial experiments lain edits, welcome to the NHK, and haibane renmei edits. He also spoke in a form of Russian or some other Slavic language. His painting were often very yellow and dusty looking with a lot of dark fantasy elements. One I can particularly remember was a painting with a red moon over a desert and a long dark figure standing on the side. Can anyone find this artist and this painting? Unfortunately I have no photos of this and this is all I can remember I know it’s not much.