r/WhatIsThisPainting • • Jan 15 '20

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

448 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

35 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 • • 13h ago

Solved Anyone recognize the art or the artist of the piece on this pillowcase?

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293 Upvotes

I don't know where it came from, and the other side of it is just the same picture. Obviously, it's a colored sketch of a cat wearing a cape flying over a city. It's been in my family likely since before I was born (1988) and I would like to know more about it and the artist. I can't really read the name that well (BK something?).


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 6h ago

Likely Solved Help me determine authenticity on this please.

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20 Upvotes

I recently picked this Binaca advertisement up at a thrift store in the Seattle area. It was professionally framed.

I'm trying to determine authenticity on it. It seems like there's a chance it's an original, but want to be sure. Measurements are 39x55" (100x140cm), which my research shows is the correct large format Italian advertisement size.

It also appears to be backed, with just the slightest edge visible (see photo.) The back is fully plain. I've done my best to show the printing up close.

Appreciate any insight!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 7h ago

Unsolved Anyone know the name?

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9 Upvotes

Found this piece of art in NYC that’s signed and numbered. My own research has come up with the most likely artist, Judith Yellin, however I cannot seem to locate a name for this specific piece. Any help is appreciated!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 3h ago

Unsolved Please help find the name of this artist /painting 🥹

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3 Upvotes

I’ve been unable to decipher the signature-professionally framed and scored at a thrift shop years ago. The internet just feeds me ads so far, any help is appreciated-I just would like to know the artist of one of my favorite finds. Thanks for reading!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 2h ago

Unsolved It's a 5x8" photo of some sort of painting, I believe. Found in a thrift store in Arizona. Could have come from Arizona, Utah or New Mexico because that's where the donations are from. I'm assuming the block letters lower left is the artist name. LAVN or LAVIN (could be a dot above the VN).

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2 Upvotes

No watermark on the paper. Glossy on the front, plain on the back. AI thinks it's a photo portfolio proof of a mid-century etching, woodcut, charcoal sketch or mixed media. No google image match. The thrift store has a religious connection, if that's of any consequence.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 3h ago

Unsolved Can’t Quite Figure This Artist Name

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2 Upvotes

I’ve had this in a box for years now. Finally got curious enough to dig into its history. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 13h ago

Unsolved So curious about this one -

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10 Upvotes

Bought at auction - and I'm looking for who the artist is.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 10h ago

Likely Solved - Decor J. Nicari? Please help lol

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4 Upvotes

My parents passed away when I was a kid over 10 years ago and was scrounging around some closets today. They had a few painting/prints that are collectable and then there is this one. Only could find 1 other painting similar by the same guy J. Nacari? Hard to read but thats what I get. Person on ebay has theirs listed for high so im definitely curious. Trying to figure out anything about the artist and or painting. Its on a piece of wood with nothing on the back.Thanks!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 13h ago

Unsolved Anyone know about this?

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7 Upvotes

I bought this online on Mercari years ago and never really looked into it until now. I can’t find anything about the artist or the hobby shop it came from. Does anyone here have any info?


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 15h ago

Unsolved Unidentified modernist abstract watercolor artist

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9 Upvotes

I have had this watercolor hanging on my wall for several years. Looking for info on artist and title. Every time I search I get a different answer. Any help is appreciated.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 5h ago

Unsolved help identify artist

1 Upvotes

This is one of my favorite pieces I own. I never could make out the signature. I acquired it 2nd hand in Cave Creek Arizona about 25 yrs ago. Does any one recognize the signature?


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 16h ago

Unsolved Sci-fi/fantasy

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7 Upvotes

Any Ideas


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 10h ago

Unsolved Help Identify Art

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2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I recently picked up this interesting piece of artwork at a thrift store for $15, and I'm hoping someone here might recognize the artist.
The signature appears to read "Viking." The artwork measures approximately 22 x 18 inches framed and appears to be mixed media on board, with layered textures, visible brushwork, and possibly a clear protective coating.
It has a wonderful mid-century modern feel, but I've had very little luck finding information about the artist.
Does anyone recognize the signature or know anything about the artist, the approximate age, or whether this might be an original? I'd really appreciate any insight. Thank you!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 7h ago

Unsolved Unknown artist 1960's

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1 Upvotes

Thrift store find painting, help identify 1960's.

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Title: Thrift-store find: 1960s mixed-media painting with monogram signature — came with Galerie Gregg Juarez posters, NYC address on back

Body:

Found this at a Palm Springs thrift store ($1.80!) together with three framed Galerie Gregg Juarez exhibition posters — Giuseppe Gambino (July 1966, La Cienega), René Allio (April 1962, Palm Beach), and Arnaud d'Hauterives "Abstract Impressions" (March 1965, Palm Beach). All four pieces have the same framer's stamp on back: Art Services, 8221 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles.

I carefully opened the backing on the painting: it's painted directly on board (not paper), and the back is hand-inscribed "7 E. 9th St NYC NY" — which turns out to be an 1838 Greenwich Village townhouse.

The painting itself: figurative scene of a couple at tea, tropical foliage, very Picasso-manner. It's NOT pure watercolor — there are visible brush strokes and opaque whites, so ink with gouache/acrylic, on board. 1960s, I'd guess.

The signature is a monogram on the right side — looks like it could be "TTL" with a flourish underneath, but I can't read it definitively. I've compared it against the three poster artists and it's none of them (Gambino and Allio both signed legible full names, and the styles don't match).

My working theory: one collector — Village townhouse, LA art scene in the 60s, retired to the desert — and this might even be the artist's own work. But I need help with the signature.

Any ideas?


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 7h ago

Unsolved Any one have any ideas?

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1 Upvotes

I just moved into a apartment with some of my friends. And my friends dad has this quite bizarre painting on the wall. I haven't been able to ask his father and in wondering if I can find out what exactly it is


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 20h ago

Unsolved Anyone recognise this signature? I've got two works by the same artist and can't figure it out

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10 Upvotes

I've been trying to identify the artist behind these two abstract works, but the signature has me completely stumped.

Both came from an older French collection I inherited and appear to be by the same artist. One is marked what looks like "Juin 70" (June 1970), so possibly French and from around that period.

I've looked at the signature so many times now I'm not even sure what the first letter is. Could be a G or an R, but I really can't make out the rest.

Anyone recognise the style or have any ideas what the name might be? Would be great to finally put a name to these.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 7h ago

Unsolved Just found this sub

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1 Upvotes

Hello I need help with this painting. It’s been on my wall for years and I came across this sub so I said why not! It is roughly 4x3. Thank you.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 11h ago

Unsolved I know this is repro of "scene from Napanoch" but do you think it was reproduced recently? How can I tell its age?

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2 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 8h ago

Unsolved Help identifying a 1981 signed print, edition of 6, signed "J./T. Corry"?

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1 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm trying to identify the artist and printer of this print and would appreciate any help.

I got this at an antique sale in DC. the back is blank save for this globe shaped watermark.

would love it if you could identify the artist! i can’t tell the name.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 12h ago

Likely Solved - Decor Unidentified Boats at the dock Canvas Painting

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2 Upvotes

Looking to identify this painting. I recently inherited it, and prior to inheriting it, it is believed to have come from a relatives ex-boyfriend's parents.

While I did not take a picture of the back, the frame seemed to say it was made in Mexico, but there was no visible artist name or information, just part of the canvas that seemed to be bent around the frame to staple it.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 13h ago

Unsolved Castellers

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2 Upvotes

¿ Alguien reconoce al autor ? El cuadro me lo dió mi padre. Cerca de Bcn.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 20h ago

Any ideas on who this artist might be? Possibly french

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7 Upvotes

​

I've been trying to figure out who painted this and the signature has me completely stumped.

It's one of several older paintings from an inherited collection that I'm trying to identify. I think some may be French, but can't be certain.

From a distance the signature almost looks like "Mouy" to me, but when I look at it closely, the first letter seems more like an R that runs into a small L? I could be completely wrong though.

I've stared at it so much now I'm probably seeing letters that aren't even there!

Anyone see something different, or recognise the artist or style? Would really appreciate any ideas. I'm using AI to help but haven't found any sting hit or similar signature.

It's lost it's frame and nothing on the back board


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 13h ago

Unsolved I need help identifying the artist and painting 🥺

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2 Upvotes

I found this at the thrift store, but it is so much more detailed than it looks from afar. I'm assuming mixed media? It has Chapin '90 as the signature, along with "Motion" and "XXV" on the frame in the back. I'd really like to know the artist 🥺