The Art Forger

Claire continues to examine After the Bath for signs of forgery. Although she still can’t find anything convincing, she is skeptical of the stiff way the women are arranged in the work, as well as the poorly developed shadows near one of the characters. She begins to wonder how and why the forgery would have been made. Given the completely solid paint and the age of the canvas, stretchers, and other elements, she believes that it must have been painted in the 19th century even if it is not an authentic Degas. Later, Claire goes to her detention center art class. The boys are beginning work on a mural. Claire is pleased that she has been allowed to do a group project despite the potential for conflict. The work goes smoothly for a while, but then one of the boys punches another who is helping him work on his section, saying that the boy is painting the “wrong way.” Claire is confused until she realizes that one of them is right-handed while the other is left-handed. Although the differences in their brushstrokes are almost indiscernible, once she notices, it is impossible to ignore. This is a lightbulb moment for Claire.