Old Man Painting

Old paintings are sometimes called historical paintings. Those produced after 1860 or ’70 are generally referred to as modern paintings, so anything produced before that may be thought of as historical. The term contemporary usually describes paintings that are no more than 20 years old. Find a wide variety of fine art from some of the world's top galleries and dealers on 1stDibs.

Pablo Picasso was 36 years old when he painted his “Harlequin” series. He completed the six paintings in 1901. They depict scenes from Parisian cafes and draw inspiration from the works of Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. You'll find a selection of Pablo Picasso art on 1stDibs.

To tell if an old painting is a print, use a magnifying glass to look at its surface up close. A real painting will have visible brushstrokes left behind by the artist. A print will usually have a smooth surface and may look like it's made up of tiny dots, depending on the printing process used to produce it. If you're still unsure about your piece, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can assist you. Explore a collection of paintings on 1stDibs.

To tell how old an oil painting is, research the artist who produced it. You can use the mobile app Smartify to snap a photo of the signature on your painting and identify the artist. Read biographical information about the artist online and look at images of their work to estimate the age of your piece. Alternatively, you can get the opinion of a knowledgeable art dealer or certified appraiser. Explore a wide variety of oil paintings on 1stDibs.

A painting produced by a skilled, noteworthy European artist that was produced before the 19th century may be considered an Old Master painting. The informal term was derived from the title of an artist who trained in a guild long enough to become a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied in a Florence painters’ guild. However, Old Masters paintings, prints and other art is now used to refer to work made by any artist with a high level of skill in painting, drawing, sculpture or printmaking who worked in Europe between 1300 and 1800. Some artists considered Old Masters include William Blake, Caravaggio, Jacques-Louis David, Frans Hals, Francisco Goya, Peter Paul Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Titian and Jan Vermeer. On 1stDibs, find a variety of paintings from some of the world’s top galleries.