Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art

Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art is a gripping and astounding 2020 documentary that explores one of the largest art fraud controversies in the 21st century. The scandal rocked not only the art world but also implicates some of the most prestigious names in the industry and accused them of complicity in a multi-million dollar art forgery scheme.

The film brings into focus the case of Knoedler & Company, once one of New York’s oldest and most reputable art galleries, which closed its doors abruptly in 2011 after 165 years in business when it was revealed to be at the center of a sweeping scandal involving art forgery. Over a span of 15 years, starting in the mid-1990s, the gallery sold over 60 forgeries attributed to famous artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Robert Motherwell for an estimated total of $80 million.

Directed by Barry Avrich, the documentary particularly revolves around Ann Freedman, the former president of Knoedler & Company. Freedman is captivating, charismatic, and, like a complex character in a high-stakes drama, she remains an intriguing figure throughout the documentary. She is presented as either victim or co-conspirator, depending on your perspective, claiming innocence and arguing she was just as much hoodwinked by the con artists as were the wealthy collectors who bought the counterfeit art.

The documentary also showcases journalist M.H. Miller and lawyer Perry Amsellem among its primary cast. M.H. Miller’s reporting for the New York Times drove much of the public's understanding of the scandal but forming part of the film, it further pushed him to carry viewers through a labyrinth of deceit, examining court documents, probing questions, and providing perspective. Perry Amsellem is a well-regarded art lawyer who, facing Freedman in one of the courtroom battles related to the scandal, provides speculative theories in contemplation and makes the viewers question the different narratives.

Made You Look is primarily based on first-hand accounts, interviews, coverage of court battles, and a deep dive into the world of art history and authentications. It offers a nuanced take on a clichéd but utterly real problem within the art world while shedding light on the psyche of the collectors, the irresistible allure of owning a piece of history, and the blurred lines between authentic and inauthentic art.

The documentary is a complex exploration into the world of high-stakes art. It's not just about the relationship between the gullible buyers and the cunning sellers but also the world of facades and façades, validating the often thrown around remark, ‘people see what they want to see.’ It taps not only into our fascination with the world of art but also into the psychological aspects that drive our desires, ambitions, and possibly even greed.

Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art holds a mirror to a world where the phrase 'seeing is believing' holds little value, where the lines between the copy and the original, the fraud, and the genuine are blurred so smoothly that it's almost impossible for the untrained eye to discern the difference. It is more than just a tale about falsified paintings being passed off as masterpieces, it is a commentary on trust, gullibility, and the persuasive power of prestige in a world where art and commerce awkwardly coexist.

The documentary is engrossing, suspenseful, and intellectually stimulating. It successfully intrigues viewers with its comprehensive storytelling and the high stake world of art commerce it unveils. It is an ambitious exploration and dissection of a monumental scandal and a deep probe into the gray art market.

To conclude, Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art is an exciting journey through an intricate scandal that exposed shocking truths about the art world. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in art, law, or simply a gripping true mystery.