ACNH Real or Fake Art: How to Spot Redd’s Forgeries Every Single Time

Let’s be real. There is nothing more frustrating in Animal Crossing: New Horizons than walking onto Redd’s rickety boat, dropping 4,980 Bells on a "Gallant Statue," and realizing two days later that Blathers won't touch it with a ten-foot pole because the guy is holding a book. It’s a rite of passage. We’ve all been scammed by that shady fox.

Knowing the difference between ACNH real or fake art isn't just about finishing your museum collection. It’s about not letting Jolly Redd get the best of you. The game developers at Nintendo pulled from actual art history to create these visual puzzles. Some of the tells are super obvious. Others? They’re subtle enough to make you squint at your Switch screen until your eyes hurt.

The Art of the Deal (and the Forgery)

Redd is a cousin. Or so he says. But his inventory is a mix of genuine masterpieces and high-quality fakes. When you’re standing in that dimly lit Treasure Trawler, you have to look for specific discrepancies. The fakes aren't just random; they are intentional "errors" based on the real-world versions of these paintings and statues.

Take the Academic Painting, for example. This is Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. In the real version, there isn't a coffee stain in the top right corner. If you see a ring that looks like Redd sat his mug down on the parchment, it’s a fake. It’s that simple. But then you get into things like the Moving Painting (The Birth of Venus), where you have to check if there are trees in the background on the right side. If the trees are missing, Redd is playing you.

Why Blathers is So Picky

Blathers has standards. He won't accept anything that isn't the real deal, and for good reason. The museum is the crown jewel of your island. If you're trying to reach a five-star rating, filling that art gallery is a massive chunk of the progress. Plus, donating real art triggers specific dialogue where Blathers nerds out about the history of the piece. If you hand him a fake, he just looks disappointed. It’s heartbreaking.

ACNH Real or Fake Art: The Paintings

Not every painting has a fake version. Some, like the Calm Painting (Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte), are always genuine. You can buy those with zero hesitation. But for the ones that do have forgeries, the devil is in the details.

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The Amazing Painting is a classic trap. This is Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. In the real version, the man in the center (the one in the big black hat) has a red sash. If the sash is missing, or if the guy in the center is wearing a different colored hat, keep your Bells in your pocket.

Then there’s the Famous Painting. Everyone knows the Mona Lisa. In New Horizons, the fake version has eyebrows that are arched way too high. It gives her a surprised, almost judgmental look. The real Mona Lisa has very faint, almost non-existent eyebrows. It’s a tiny detail that makes a huge difference.

• Detailed Painting: Look at the foliage. The real one has white flowers. The fake has purple flowers.
• Graceful Painting: This one is tricky because the fake is actually haunted. In the real version, the woman takes up most of the frame. In the fake, she's much smaller. Also, at certain times of night, the fake version's figure will turn her head. It's creepy.
• Jolly Painting: Check the chest of the man made of vegetables. Real ones have a sprout. Fakes are missing it.
• Scary Painting: This is the actor Otani Oniji III. The real one has eyebrows that curve down toward the nose. The fake has "angry" eyebrows that curve up.

Honestly, some of these fakes are actually kind of cool to keep for home decor. The "haunted" ones especially. The Wistful Painting (Girl with a Pearl Earring) is another haunted one. The fake version has star-shaped earrings instead of pearls, and her eyes close at night. If you want a spooky basement vibe, the fakes are actually better than the originals.

Don't Get Fooled by the Statues

Statues are where Redd really tries to bank. They cost the same as paintings, but they take up way more space and look incredible in your island's outdoor areas. Checking ACNH real or fake art in the statue category requires a 360-degree inspection. You can actually move the camera around the item before you buy it. Use that.

The Beautiful Statue (Venus de Milo) is a common one. The real one has no necklace. If you see a thick, cord-like necklace around her neck, it’s a forgery.

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The Gallant Statue (David) is even more blatant. The fake version is holding a book under his right arm. The real David? Definitely not carrying any reading material. It’s a weird addition that makes the fake very easy to spot once you know what to look for.

The Most Infamous Fakes

1. Ancient Statue: This is the Jomon period Dogu figurine. The real one doesn't have antennae. The fake has two antenna-like ears sticking out of its head. Oh, and the fake floats and glows blue when you interact with it.
2. Mystic Statue: Nefertiti's bust. The real one has a flat earlobe. The fake has a long, dangling earring.
3. Robust Statue: The Discus Thrower. The real one has a bare wrist. The fake is wearing a wristwatch. Yes, a wristwatch on an ancient Greek statue. Redd isn't even trying with that one.
4. Rock-head Statue: This Olmec colossal head is supposed to be stoic. The fake version is smiling. It’s unsettling.

How to Guarantee a Real Purchase

If you’re tired of guessing, there are ways to mitigate the risk. First, open your camera app on your NookPhone. Zoom in. Use the different filters to see if the colors change or if a hidden detail pops out. Sometimes the lighting on Redd's boat is so bad that you can't tell the color of a flower or the shape of a hand.

Also, talk to your villagers. Sometimes they’ll send you art in the mail. Smug villagers are particularly prone to sending art, though they can be fooled by fakes just as easily as you. It's a gamble, but it's a free gamble.

The best way to consistently find real art is to unlock Redd’s stall on Harv’s Island. Once you pay the 100,000 Bell fee to get him set up there, he’ll have two pieces of art on display every day. If you buy one (even a fake), he replaces it the next day. This allows you to cycle through his inventory much faster than waiting for his boat to randomly dock at your secret beach once every few weeks.

Spotting the "Always Real" Pieces

There is a decent list of art that never has a forgery. If you see these, buy them immediately. They are guaranteed entries for the museum.

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• Great Statue (Kamehameha I)
• Familiar Statue (The Thinker)
• Glowing Painting (The Fighting Temeraire)
• Sinking Painting (Ophelia)
• Proper Painting (A Bar at the Folies-Bergère)
• Flowery Painting (Sunflowers)
• Dynamic Painting (Great Wave off Kanagawa)
• Moody Painting (The Sower)
• Nice Painting (The Young Flute Player)

This isn't an exhaustive list, but these are the heavy hitters. If you see the Great Wave, snatch it up. It's iconic and 100% authentic every time.

Why the Hunt Matters

At its core, the art collection in Animal Crossing is a lesson in observation. It encourages players to look closer at the world around them. When you finally finish that wing of the museum, it feels like a genuine achievement because you had to navigate Redd's lies and Blathers' high standards.

It’s also a way to learn a bit about art history without it feeling like a lecture. You start recognizing the difference between a Manet and a Monet because one has a fake version in your favorite video game and the other doesn't.

Your Next Steps to a Full Museum

Stop guessing and start inspecting. Before your next trip to the Treasure Trawler, pull up a high-resolution image of the real-world artwork.

• Check the lighting: Use your NookPhone camera to brighten the scene.
• Look for modern additions: Watches, books, and headphones are dead giveaways.
• Buy daily at Harv's Island: This is the fastest way to flush out the fakes and find the gems.
• Check your mail: Don't ignore those gifts from your villagers; sometimes they actually have good taste.

Once you’ve secured a piece, take it straight to Blathers. If it’s real, donate it. If it’s fake, don't just throw it away. Some fakes look great in a "forgery room" in your house or as part of an outdoor marketplace display. Just because it isn't "museum quality" doesn't mean it doesn't have a place on your island.

Get out there and finish that collection. Redd is waiting, and he’s definitely trying to scam you right now.

Actionable Insight: Go to Harv’s Island today and check Redd’s stall. If both items are fakes you already own, buy the cheapest one anyway. This forces the inventory to refresh tomorrow, giving you a fresh 2-in-14 chance of landing a real masterpiece you’re missing.