The Art Forger

“There’s illegal and there’s illegal.”

Markel uses this line to justify his plan to commit forgery. He admits that the plan is illegal but argues that the legality is irrelevant because it is the moral thing to do, evidence of Moral Compromise as a Consequence of Ambition.

“So I began to paint, using Issac’s brushes, Issac’s oils, Issac’s series, and Issac’s style.”

Claire’s work as a forger starts when she creates a painting under Issac’s name. The scene where she starts the painting shows her falling in love not only with Issac himself, but with the idea of becoming someone else entirely while painting.

Crystal, the no talent phony in her trendy new clothes, sucking up to all her trendy new friends at the Oak Room”

Crystal Mack is often made fun of by Claire and other artists; she is seen as a phony despite being well known for her original works. This highlights how even without scandal and fraud, an artist can be discounted by their peers simply for receiving recognition that they don’t believe is deserved.

“After the Bath. I am awed, I am thrilled. I am horrified.”

This line highlights the mixture of emotions that Claire feels after receiving the “Degas” painting. Notably, she lists horror last. Her fascination with the painting and the idea of recreating it supersedes her fear of criminality from the very start.

“In all likelihood, I am the most dangerous criminal in the building.”

Claire is followed by a guard in the MFA, and at first is annoyed. She realizes the irony quickly, as she is there to sketch Degas paintings to help her with the forgery process.

It hurts you every time you look at me because you know that I know the truth.”

Claire confronts Issac with this line, just after he breaks up with her. He has no response but is angered by Claire’s blatant honesty. Claire’s knowledge makes it impossible for Isaac to believe in the fiction that he is the creator of the famous 4D. Despite The Malleability of Image and Reputation in the Art World, Isaac privately knows the truth just as Clarie does.

It’s almost if, in time, everything we’re convinced is true will be proven false.”

While considering the morality of her painting, Claire begins to muse about other things that have been considered true for years and later disproven. She attempts to minimize her own ethical issues by universalizing the problem. If nothing is true, then she has not behaved immorally. This is another instance of moral compromise as a consequence of ambition.

“Strong light floods the studio, which is a good sign for the first day of painting.”

This line highlights Claire’s fascination with light, and the ways that the natural light reflects her mood. When she sees the bright light in her windows—a metaphor for hope and moral clarity—she feels better about the idea of completing After the Bath.

The scandal would be delicious but alas, your poor uncle would die of shame.”

Isabella writes this to Amelia after telling her about the nude painting. This line offers characterization of Amelia and context for her turn-of-the-century world: Isabella’s natural instinct is to lean into scandalous behavior, but she knows that she must maintain respectability in her social circles.

You won’t get any grief from me, Claire. I have friends at MoMA and know that things aren’t as straightforward as many believe.”

Claire meets with the woman who watched her paint 4D, hoping she can help get the decision reversed. This line is the first clue Claire gets that art authentication is about more than who actually painted a painting. In a world that runs on Originality and Cultural Prestige as Sources of Value in Art, institutions are more concerned with reputation than truth.

“I want you to paint another 4D.”

Karen gives Claire this task as a way to challenge Issac’s claim to the painting. Ultimately, although Claire complies, it does not matter. This shows that even Karen may be unaware of how complex the art business actually is.

With the two forgeries gone, the studio feels open, alive, hopeful.”

After initially enjoying having After the Bath in her studio, Claire is happy when it is finally gone. Her use of the word forgery here is notable; her perception of After the Bath changed when she realized it wasn’t a real Degas. As the original fraud becomes clear, the artist goes from coveting the work to seeing it mainly as a symbol of deception and a personal liability. The feeling of openness in the studio symbolizes the lifting of a moral weight.

“[T]he bad forgeries have been discovered because the good ones are hanging on museum walls.”

Claire often reflects on this line from one of her classes from reproductions.com staff. She has come to believe that there are many fakes hidden in plain sight at museums, perhaps never to be discovered.

“A split basil leaf protrudes from the slab of toast like the tongue of a snake.”

Food is often described in detail, used to convey information about what is happening in the story. Markel and Claire often eat together, and she remarks about his cooking skills. On a visit shortly before he is arrested, though, Claire’s sandwich disgusts her because she can tell that Markel is overconfident. The simile comparing the basil leaf to a snake’s tongue symbolizes moral compromise.

“I scuttle into my building like a cockroach running from light.”

After initially feeling invisible within the cloud of the 4D scandal, Claire quickly begins to feel entirely exposed when her art is hung in the museum as the original. Shapiro uses a simile related to grimy city life to convey Claire’s world.

“I had the thought that I was breaking from the chrysalis that has imprisoned me all these years.”

Isabella writes this to her niece, after a vaguely described, passionate encounter with Degas. It reflects both her feelings about the society in which she lives, and shows the ways in which Degas was able to make women feel fully seen both in his painting and real life.

“I was fast discovering that there was, indeed, such a thing as bad publicity.”

This line comes from a flashback chapter, which appears in the middle of the main storyline’s most tense scenes. Although Clare made this discovery years ago, she finds herself repeating history when she becomes embroiled in the After the Bath affair.

“I’m holding my own personal Rosetta Stone. Aiden’s too, I hope.”

Claire compares Rendell’s papers to the Rosetta Stone, the discovery of which led to the understanding of the Ancient Egyptian language. This comparison reveals how confident she is that if she uncovers the secret of the painting, everything will be resolved.

“Everything about Belle Gardner is either improbable or contradictory, and I can only hope I’m on the right track.”

Isabella “Belle” Stewart Gardner is an enigmatic character throughout the novel. This makes Claire’s process of uncovering the forgery much more challenging.

“I glance up and notice the dark circles under her eyes, the wrinkles I hadn’t seen before, and feel a stab of sympathy.”

This line shows how Claire often paints other characters in an undeservedly villainous light. She is annoyed that the Gardner Museum curator doesn’t immediately believe her regarding the Degas painting, but she slowly realizes that the curator is doing a very difficult job, and Claire is bringing her only more work.

“According to the sign on the door, I’m in the Processing Room. Being processed. For committing a crime, A felony.”

Shapiro uses this style of clipped language when Claire is emotionally overwhelmed and in shock. Although she spends large parts of the novel worrying whether she is a criminal, by the time Claire is arrested it comes as a complete surprise. She has succeeding in convincing herself that she is entirely innocent, and briefly forgets that the law might not see it the same way.

“They think my notoriety is fabulous.”

When people start asking to open Markel G for her show, Claire worries that her work does not stand on its own. The declarative style of this line suggests that she no longer worries about her standing as an artist.

“Aside from some rocks and piles of dust, the chamber is empty.”

Claire believes wholeheartedly that the real After the Bath is hidden in the Gardner Museum basement. When the secret chamber that she has hung her future on turns out to be empty, everyone is shocked.