An unknown painting was found in Bulgaria, possibly made by the American abstract-expressionist painter Jackson Pollock (1912-1956). The canvas is currently being examined in more detail.
The painting was discovered last month in an apartment in the Bulgarian capital Sofia during an international police operation against a smuggling network.
Former Romanian dictator
The work is signed by the artist, but is not listed in any art catalogue. The work also contains a message to Hollywood star Lauren Bacall, a friend of the painter, in honor of her 25th birthday on September 16, 1949. Another striking element is a signature of the former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu on the back of the painting. This suggests that the work was part of Ceausescu’s private collection.
“Almost certainly authentic work”
Ivan Demerdjiev of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior says it is almost certainly an authentic work by the famous artist. Experts have determined that the painting “conforms in style, technique and artistic specificity to the aesthetic particularities of Jackson Pollock’s work in the period 1945-1950”, he told bTV.
An analysis of the chemical composition of the colors has also revealed similarities with other work by Pollock, says Deputy Prosecutor Sofia Desislava Petrova, who still warns against jumping to conclusions.
Up to 100 million
If it is indeed a work by Pollock, the canvas can be worth up to 100 million dollars, the equivalent of 92 million euros.
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