The Art Forger

Chapter 1 opens as protagonist and narrator Claire Roth is preparing for an unexpected meeting with a high-profile art gallery owner, Aiden Markel. Claire is a painter whose income primarily comes from making realistic reproductions of classical oil paintings for a company that sells copies of famous works. She lives modestly, sleeping in her studio and relying on ancient, uncomfortable furniture. While choosing which paintings to display for Markel’s visit, she ponders why he is coming in the first place. She makes references to being an outcast in the art world, although she is highly regarded for her reproductions.

Markel arrives at Claire’s studio, and she introduces him to her current painting obsession, capturing window scenes across Boston. He admires her nuanced understanding of light and compares her to Vermeer. They discuss a painting by another artist, for which Claire modeled nude, which has recently sold for a high price. After admiring Claire’s original works, Markel turns his attention to some reproductions she is working on. He tells her he has a proposition, and he offers her a solo show at his gallery if she agrees. Although Markel will not tell her the plan, he admits that it is not entirely legal.