German police arrest forgery gang that claimed Rijksmuseum Rembrandt was fake

German authorities have dismantled a gang of art forgers who created counterfeit works by artists including Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso. The group sought millions of euros for the fake pieces and even attempted to persuade buyers that they owned the original De Staalmeesters, claiming that the version in the Rijksmuseum was itself a forgery.

The primary suspect, a 77-year-old German, allegedly worked with ten accomplices, including an 84-year-old woman from Switzerland who possessed one of the counterfeit works. The group also offered paintings claimed to be by Peter Paul Rubens, Joan Miró, and Frida Kahlo, asking prices ranging from 400,000 to 14 million euros per piece.

Reports indicate that the man was asking 120 million Swiss Francs (around 115 million euros) for the Rembrandt painting De Staalmeesters, which has been in the Rijksmuseum since 1885. The counterfeit was likely created in the 20th century, unlike the original, which Rembrandt painted in the 17th century.

Last week, police raided several locations and confiscated the artworks, with similar searches carried out in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The operation was led by Bavarian authorities. Authorities have yet to determine if any of the forgeries were sold to unsuspecting collectors or institutions. Police are investigating the possibility of an international art fraud network.

The authorities became aware of the group after they attempted to sell two paintings purportedly by Picasso, including one of Dora Maar, Picasso’s partner.