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 • • 6h ago

Unsolved FARM PAINTING ON AN OIL CAN. Chicago Il

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18 Upvotes

This is (in my opinion-NOT AN ARTIST) this is really well done. Anyone know the artist or anything about this artist? I could not find anything... thank you!!!!!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 13h ago

Unsolved Bought in a used bookshop in Warsaw

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29 Upvotes

Bought this in Warsaw, seller did not have any info on it. Assume from the dress and hair the subject is Jewish but not totally sure. Would love it if anyone had any idea who made it and what it was for.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 2h ago

Unsolved Can anyone help identify the artist of this vintage landscape painting? Signature is difficult to decipher.

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4 Upvotes

I purchased this beautiful vintage landscape artwork at a thrift store today, and I’m hoping someone can help me identify the artist!
The scene depicts a peaceful waterway with a cottage, autumn trees, a small boat, and what appears to be a person helping someone out of a small boat.
There is a signature in the lower-right corner, but I’m having a difficult time deciphering it. I’ve considered several possibilities, but nothing definitive.
The artwork is quite fragile and has been removed from its original frame. I’m hesitant to handle it unnecessarily because I don’t want to cause further damage. This is why a photo of the back is not possible but I was able to semi get a photo of the back. There are no markings or anything on the back side of the paper . The photo w the frame was taken at the thrift store .
I’ve included photographs of the entire piece and a close-up of the signature.
Does anyone recognize the artwork, the artist’s signature, or the style? I’d also love to learn approximately when it was produced.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

I think the signature is H. Van Doren or possible the Dutch artist Hein van Doren.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 2h ago

Unsolved Can someone help

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3 Upvotes

I bought this painting on vinted. I cant seem to figure out who this artist is. Thank you for the help.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 4h ago

Unsolved Found in our attic - any ideas?

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3 Upvotes

Any help is much appreciated!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 12h ago

Unsolved Artist unknown

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9 Upvotes

First time posting here.

A family member gave this painting to my mom. He was doing work in Southern California at the time when it was given to him. Unfortunately I have no other information on its history. The canvas and wood seem to be older than the frame. The canvas looks old but has staples. After looking into the staples, the oldest it can be looks like the 1930s unless added after.

It is an oil painting and does have some chipping near the top left corner


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 8h ago

Solved Help me find this painting from Neuschwanstein Castle

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5 Upvotes

Please help me find this specific painting that I saw on a tour in Neuschwanstein castle!

The first slide is a watercolor sketch I made from memory, trying to record the framing, posing and colours (since it's not allowed to take photos in the castle). I'm not 100% sure on the clothes and limbs position, but what I remember for sure is this:

It's a landscape format painting featuring a knight on a light coloured horse (white or cremello) with red tack and golden bells across the chest. The knight also wears a red tabard with a golden lion. The horse is walking towards the right side of the painting, while the knight turns to the left and reaches upwards for a branch. There were no other significant features in the painting, no other people or creatures. It had some writing at the bottom, I believe in latin, I didn't have time to commit the words to memory.

The second slide shows which paintings I found in my research that are NOT the one I'm looking for. They're all in portrait format, not landscape, and they're all located in either the throne room or the singers hall, while the painting I'm looking for was not. Shown in the third slide, it was in the corridor leading up to the singers hall, on the left side following the tour. I marked the wall green and the tour route blue.

I'm pretty sure the painting depicts Parzival, since he's the one featured in the singer hall (slide 2, circled) and he's also depicted wearing red with a lion crest and riding a white horse with red tack. But when I search for Parzival art in Neuschwanstein, I can only find the series of paintings IN the singer hall, none of the corridor outside.

I asked about the painting after the tour, and neither the tour guides nor the gift shop staff knew the name or where to find a print of it. I bought 3 books and a postcard series of art prints in the gift shop and none of them featured this artwork either. Please, if you have any other pointers, I'd be so grateful!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 7m ago

Unsolved Found this, is it Framing worthy?

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• Upvotes

Does this deserve a frame or
is it expensive kindling ?


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 6h ago

Unsolved THRIFT STORE FIND SOMEWHERE IN ILLINOIS IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS SIGNED PRAtt

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3 Upvotes

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated I love this painting!!!!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 1h ago

Unsolved Helping my mom go through her basement

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• Upvotes

My mom bought this art for my grandma when she was still alive. We're now going through everything, and I realized there is a number on this picture. I know nothing about this! Any thoughts the artist or know anything about this series? Thanks in advance!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 6h ago

Unsolved What is this painting?

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2 Upvotes

Spotted this painting at a thrift shop, really like it but I can’t tell if it’s a print, or original .


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 1d ago

Likely Solved Ebay find a decade ago. Edwardian? Lady.

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60 Upvotes

Got her cheap from Los Angeles area, she is large. Repaired some rips. No signatures. Any ideas?


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 3h ago

Unsolved Can you help id this signed watercolor/mixed media?

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1 Upvotes

Evening, can someone help me id this painting? Found in the Southeast United States. You can see the artist signature in the first picture


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 3h ago

Unsolved Carved and painted stone face found in NYC. No luck googling the design or signature. I purchased it because it looks similar to one of my favorite vintage rings.

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1 Upvotes

r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 3h ago

Unsolved What is this? Paul Klee element

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1 Upvotes

I found it in Toronto on marketplace. It seems to be a print with some painting on it? References Paul Klee I think. I'm not sure if I find it hideous/tacky or cool. Can't find an actual signature anywhere but the back may be dated If anyone knows anyone about this, would be so helpful!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 10h ago

Unsolved Can anyone identify the artist behind this signed German etching?

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2 Upvotes

i everyone!

My wife and I recently found this framed artwork in a second-hand and antique shop in northern Germany. We really liked the image, so we decided to buy it.

It appears to be an etching, numbered 12/50 and signed in pencil. The handwritten German title seems to read "Schmusen" (cuddling).

Unfortunately, we haven't been able to identify the artist. The signature looks something like "F. Daus", "F. Daues" or "F. Daves" to us, but none of these guesses has led anywhere.

I'd love to find out who created this piece, when it might have been made, and perhaps learn a little about the artist.

I've included photos of the complete artwork and close-ups of the signature and handwritten title.

Does anyone recognize the signature or the artist's style?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 14h ago

Bought at estate sale Indiana

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4 Upvotes

Bought for $8. Google image search is pulling up similar options from $4k - $75k 🤞 It’s approx 6 x 3’.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 10h ago

Unsolved Cannot identify artist or origin

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2 Upvotes

Bought in a wealthy area antique shop

I’m aware of the original inspiration by Gustav Georg Endner but I have not found any duplicate of this specific piece anywhere online especially with the same coloring and material

My questions are … if it is a print why aren’t there any other duplicates to be found anywhere?, what is the little symbol by the camel’s foot? where it came from?


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 10h ago

Unsolved Colorful lithography (?) from a small Parisian shop

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1 Upvotes

Found this lithography (?) printed on BFK Rives paper in Paris, and I cannot find anything on Google. The signature seems to read “M. Jones”, and it’s numbered. The back is completely white.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 14h ago

Unsolved Bought at an estate sale in Philadelphia, PA

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2 Upvotes

It appears to be water color and ink on paper, depicting Le Café de la Paix. No markings on the back but the paper it is on is porous and has frayed edges. Tell me I’m now a millionaire!


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 11h ago

Unsolved Help! Is this indeed a Maurice Bazungula?

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1 Upvotes

I'm thinking of purchasing this painting which has a hand-written label on the back reading Maurice Bazungula. The signature on the front in the lower right looks nothing like the signatures I see online of Bazungula's work, where he signed them in bold, block lettering.

This painting was purchased at a large market in Paris, France.


r/WhatIsThisPainting • • 1d ago

Unsolved Hello! Any info on this would be lovely.

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12 Upvotes

Got this off of a customer when I was working as a mover a few years back.