According to connoisseurship principles, how does authenticity affect market value?

• A. Authenticity has no impact on value
• B. Authenticity correlates with market value
• C. Value depends solely on the artist's fame
• D. Authenticity only matters for museums

Answer: (B)

In connoisseurship, authenticity acts as a fundamental value signal in the art market. Experts verify a work’s attribution through provenance, stylistic analysis, materials, signature, and sometimes scientific testing to confirm it truly originates from the claimed artist and period. When authenticity is established, buyers gain confidence that the work is genuine, rare, and historically important, which justifies a higher price and easier resale, insurance, and lending. Conversely, doubts about attribution or evidence of misattribution undermine value, because the risk of a fake or uncertain provenance lowers demand and market liquidity. While an artist’s fame can influence prices, that value largely depends on the work being authenticated; without authenticity, even celebrated names can lose substantial value.