A stunning discovery has sent shockwaves through the art world after experts revealed that a painting purchased for less than $50 at a Minnesota garage sale may be a previously unknown work by Vincent van Gogh, per artnews.com. The oil painting, titled Elimar (1889), depicts a fisherman with a white chin-beard and a round hat, meticulously repairing his net along a desolate shore. The piece, measuring 18 by 16 inches, bears the name “Elimar” scrawled in the lower right corner, believed to be the subject’s name.
The painting was acquired by an anonymous antiques collector at a garage sale before being sold to the New York-based art-research firm LMI Group International in 2019. Since then, a team of 20 experts, including chemists, curators and patent lawyers, has conducted an extensive analysis of the work. Their findings, detailed in a 458-page report, suggest that Elimar could indeed be an authentic van Gogh, created during the artist’s stay at the Saint-Paul psychiatric sanitarium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, between May 1889 and May 1890.
Jennifer Mass, president of Scientific Analysis of Fine Art, confirmed that the canvas’s thread count and pigments align with those used during van Gogh’s lifetime. However, one pigment, PR-50, initially thought to have been patented in the early 20th century, was traced back to an 1883 patent registered by a French chemical company. This discovery has allowed experts to date the painting to the late 19th century, further supporting its authenticity.
Maxwell L. Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of LMI Group and former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, described Elimar as a “spiritual self-portrait” that reflects van Gogh’s recurring theme of redemption. “This moving likeness embodies van Gogh’s desire to be remembered through his art,” Anderson said in a statement.
While the findings are compelling, the painting must still be officially authenticated by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. If confirmed, Elimar could be valued at an estimated $15 million, transforming a humble garage sale find into a priceless piece of art history.
This discovery not only sheds new light on van Gogh’s oeuvre but also underscores the enduring allure of uncovering hidden masterpieces in the most unexpected places.
- Featured image courtesy LMI Group International
