In the 1960s, a colorful painting at a White Plains, N.Y., thrift store caught Helene Plotkin\u2019s eye. Drawn in by the vibrant colors and bold brushwork, she paid less than $100 for the painting and took it home. It hung on her wall for decades, until last December, when her son became curious about the painting\u2019s origins.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never, never thought about it at all,\u201d Plotkin said in a recent telephone interview with the New York Times (1), \u201cother than I loved the painting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Must Read <\/p>\n
The painting features a seated woman in black, turned towards the viewer, in what appears to be a home setting, with shelves lining the walls behind her. While the woman looks fairly realistic, the background features slashes of bright orange and yellow, indicative of the short-lived Fauvist style (2) favored by artists like Henri Matisse following the Impressionist style in the early 1900s.<\/p>\n
Plotkin\u2019s son, Barry, remembers his mother occasionally commenting on the painting\u2019s origins, but never investigating its provenance. At least not until late last year, when Barry decided to use Google\u2019s AI assistant to find more information about it.<\/p>\n
After snapping a photo of the painting, he uploaded it to Gemini and asked what it could tell him. Within moments, Gemini flagged the painting as a Scottish Colorist work and suggested it might belong to F.C.B. Cadell (3), a well-known early 20th-century painter. Professional appraisers at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull later confirmed it.<\/p>\n
The painting was recently sold in a private auction for nearly $254,000.<\/p>\n
Why so many hidden gems remain undiscovered <\/p>\n
While Plotkin\u2019s story is dramatic, it\u2019s not the first time paintings by famous artists have been discovered decades (4) later. However, using AI to uncover their origins is unique. So why are so many masterpieces found in unexpected places?<\/p>\n
For starters, many artists are not famous in their lifetimes. Vincent Van Gogh, arguably one of the most famous artists in the world, gained some recognition while alive (5), but his rise to fame didn\u2019t occur until after his death. He often traded his paintings with friends for food or art supplies (6), which could have easily ended up in an attic or, perhaps, even a thrift store.<\/p>\n
Story Continues <\/p>\n
Theft of art during wars is also common, most notably during World War II. Experts estimate that nearly one-fifth of all art (7) in Europe was looted by the Nazis. Hundreds of thousands (8) of pieces remain missing to this day. It\u2019s not hard to imagine some landing in thrift stores after someone passes away.<\/p>\n
For many owners of such items, the barrier to identifying them isn\u2019t scarcity; it\u2019s the hassle of getting something properly assessed. Hauling a dusty painting to an auction house, only to be turned away, feels like more effort than it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n
Barry said as much himself: Even as his mother occasionally wondered aloud about the painting\u2019s origins, neither of them ever acted on it. AI, however, could make it easier than ever to uncover art lost to time with just a five-minute conversation.<\/p>\n
Read More: About 1 in 5 Americans over 50 has zero retirement savings \u2014 here’s the catch-up plan you can actually use<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n How to use AI to find out how much your stuff is worth <\/p>\n Have a painting, piece of jewelry, or furniture you\u2019ve always wondered about? Here\u2019s how to leverage AI to see if you\u2019re sitting on a gold mine.<\/p>\n Take high-quality pictures <\/p>\n AI image tools are only as good as what you give them. For art, photograph it straight on in natural light and add close-ups of any signatures, stamps, or markings on the back.<\/p>\n For jewelry or furniture, get the maker\u2019s marks, hallmarks, and engravings. The more detail, the better. Upload multiple images to give the tool more to work with.<\/p>\n Ask specific questions <\/p>\n Don\u2019t just ask AI, \u201cWhat is this?\u201d Push the AI tool to get more detailed: What style is it? What time period might it have been painted or created in? What should I look for on the back or underside?<\/p>\n In the Plotkin case, Gemini not only identified the likely artist but directed Barry to check the back of the canvas, where they found an auction marking and canvas stamp that helped confirm the attribution.<\/p>\n Ask for help finding experts <\/p>\n This is one of the most underrated steps. Gemini didn\u2019t just identify Plotkin\u2019s painting; it also recommended specific specialists at a specific auction house. The lack of that type of information is what holds many people back.<\/p>\n Most reputable auction houses offer free initial assessments, and organizations like the American Society of Appraisers can help you find a certified expert in your area.<\/p>\n There\u2019s one caveat, however: AI can be wrong and sometimes hallucinates, so don\u2019t take the first answer at face value. It\u2019s worth verifying answers with several tools and doing some research of your own before going the length to talk to experts or visit auction houses. That said, as a free tool, AI can help you get started on your research.<\/p>\n You May Also Like <\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Article Sources <\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n The New York Times (1<\/a>); The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2<\/a>); National Galleries Scotland (3<\/a>); Artnet News (4<\/a>); Van Gogh Museum (5<\/a>), (6<\/a>); Gettysburg College (7<\/a>); Monuments Men and Women Foundation (8<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com<\/a> under the title: She bought a painting at a thrift store for $100. Decades later, her son sold it for over $250,000 \u2014 how they did it<\/a><\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the 1960s, a colorful painting at a White Plains, N.Y., thrift store caught Helene Plotkin\u2019s eye. 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