the value of art

I really want to see the documentary Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? The subject of the film is a painting found by Teri Horton at a yard sale which she has spent the last 14 years trying to verify is an authentic Jackson Pollock. If it is, she owns a potential fortune. According to at least one art expert, it's the real deal. But if it's not, well then who's to say what it's worth?

I wonder if this same sort of controversy could have ever arisen around another artist's work. I mean, stone cold convincing forgeries have been around for years, but Pollock's splatter paintings are so . . . um . . easy. (ducks to avoid torrent of rage being hurled from art critics and scholars) I'm no expert, but it is possible that many could do the same thing on canvas. At least some have felt that way. The film reportedly address these issues, so it looks promising. Here's Ms. Horton with the "art." (<--quotations will be removed upon the painting's authentication.)