Authenticating a Work Attributed to Édouard Manet

Experts have begun verifying the authenticity of a painting attributed to Édouard Manet using artificial intelligence. A specialized algorithm analyzes the artist’s brushwork by comparing it to verified masterpieces. The neural network has already been trained on open-access databases from the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Researchers are now refining the analysis by studying Manet’s drawings and watercolors to cross-reference details. Simultaneously, the algorithm is being adjusted to identify other potential authors should the attribution to Manet prove incorrect.

Microscopic technical analysis has helped narrow down the likely timeframe of the painting’s creation. Additionally, archival research in Russian libraries—including French publications that entered Imperial Russia and later the USSR—has been completed. Investigators examined records dating back to 1912 for further clues on provenance. The study is ongoing, with new findings expected soon.