The paintings of self taught artist Clementine Hunter have become prized possession of collectors’ of folk art and Southern art. Hunter's charmingly naïve paintings depict life on the Cane River at Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches, Louisiana where she first worked in the fields and then in the house. Images of cotton picking, wash days with clothes hanging on the line and boiling in cast iron pot under a fire, and somber funerals as well as baptismal frequented her paintings.
At the age of hundred and one, Clementine died in 1988, while her reputation as an artist continued to grow as museums including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art collected and exhibited her work. Unfortunately, there is an unpleasant issue which began during her life time and continues to this day. It is the problem of fake Clementine Hunter paintings appearing in the marketplace.
Hunter’s grandson Frankie, who attempted to emulate her work, and would sometimes sign his “FH” monogram and then sometimes her “CH” monogram on his paintings. A store down the road from Melrose sold, even during her lifetime, her original work and occasionally fakes. An eccentric couple in Baton Rouge is currently under investigation for producing newer and improved versions of fake Hunter paintings.
What is a collector to do? First of all became knowledgeable. Go to museums, look at their Clementine Hunter paintings and develop of eye for her style, color palette and brushwork. Museum collections have been largely donated by reliable sources that knew the artist and collected early. There are books on her work, including by the late art dealer Shelby Gilley who knew Clementine and where he addressed the forgery problem. Also purchase Hunter paintings from respected galleries, dealers and auction houses that have experience in handling her work.
To be a collector is to be educated and well versed in what you collect.
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