You’re standing on a dimly lit boat. The air smells like incense and old paper. Jolly Redd is grinning at you, leaning over a wooden counter with a "deal" that seems just a little too good to be true. We've all been there. You want that museum wing filled, but Blathers is a stickler for the rules. If you bring him a forgery, he’ll give you that look—the one that says he’s disappointed but not surprised. Dealing with fake paintings Animal Crossing players encounter isn't just about finishing a collection; it's a rite of passage.
Buying art in New Horizons is honestly a gamble if you don't know what to look for. Redd is a cousin, sure, but he’s the kind of cousin who’d sell you a "Rolex" out of a trench coat. Every piece of art in the game is based on a real-world masterpiece, from Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to Hokusai’s Great Wave. The catch? Some are always genuine, while others have "haunted" or "fake" versions that look nearly identical to the untrained eye.
Why Redd’s Art Gallery is a Minefield
It’s easy to get frustrated. You spend 4,980 Bells—which isn't a fortune, but still—only to find out your new "Masterpiece" is a cheap knockoff. The developers at Nintendo clearly had a lot of fun with this. They didn't just make the fakes look slightly off; they gave some of them supernatural properties.
Take the Scary Painting, for example. It’s based on Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei by Toshusai Sharaku. In the real painting, the actor has down-turned eyebrows. In the fake version? He looks surprisingly sad or sometimes sports a sinister grin. Even weirder, some fakes change at night. If you hang a fake Wistful Painting (Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring) in your house, you might notice her eyes close when the sun goes down. It’s creepy. It’s cool. But it won't get you that gold museum plaque.
Blathers won't take them. Timmy and Tommy won't buy them. If you’re stuck with a fake, you’re basically looking at a trash can or a very specific aesthetic choice for your island's "shady market" area.
The Most Infamous Fakes and How to Spot Them
You have to look at the details. Zoom in. Use the handheld camera tool if you have to.
The Famous Painting (Mona Lisa)
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is arguably the most recognizable piece of art in the world. In Animal Crossing, Redd’s fake version features eyebrows that are sharply cocked upward. The real Mona Lisa famously lacks prominent eyebrows. It’s a subtle flex by the developers to see if you’re actually paying attention to art history or just clicking "buy."
The Academic Painting (Vitruvian Man)
This one is a classic trap. Da Vinci’s sketch of the human proportions is iconic. In the fake version, there is a large coffee stain in the upper right corner. If the paper looks pristine, it’s the real deal. If it looks like Redd had his morning latte over the parchment, leave it on the boat.
The Moving Painting (The Birth of Venus)
Sandro Botticelli’s masterpiece is a staple of any museum. The fake is actually pretty easy to catch if you know where to look. In the real painting, there are trees in the background on the right side. In the fake? Those trees are completely missing. It’s a literal "can’t see the forest for the trees" situation.
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The Wild Painting (Left and Right Half)
These are the bane of every completionist's existence. They are based on the Wind and Thunder Gods folding screens. Because there are two halves, you have a double chance of getting scammed. For the Left Half, the deity should be white. If he’s green, it’s a fake. For the Right Half, the deity should be green. If he’s white, you’re looking at a forgery.
Art That Is Always Genuine
Sometimes Redd actually plays fair. There are several pieces of art in the game that have no fake version at all. If you see these on the boat, buy them immediately. No questions asked.
- Great Wave (Great Wave off Kanagawa): Hokusai’s masterpiece is always real.
- Calm Painting (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte): Seurat’s pointillism is too hard for Redd to forge, apparently.
- Common Painting (The Gleaners): Always authentic.
- Flowery Painting (Sunflowers): Van Gogh’s flowers are always the real thing.
- Moody Painting (The Sower): Millet’s work is safe.
- Nice Painting (The Young Flautist): Manet’s flautist is always genuine.
- Perfect Painting (Still Life with Apples and Oranges): Cezanne’s fruit is never fake.
- Proper Painting (A Bar at the Folies-Bergere): Always real.
- Sinking Painting (Ophelia): Millais’ Ophelia is safe to buy.
- Twinkling Painting (The Starry Night): Another Van Gogh that Redd hasn't figured out how to fake.
- Worthy Painting (Liberty Leading the People): Delacroix’s iconic work is always authentic.
Knowing this list is basically a cheat code. If your inventory is full and you only have one spot, prioritize these. They are guaranteed donations for Blathers.
The Hidden Complexity of Statues
Statues are where things get really tricky. They take up more space and often have more dramatic differences. The Valiant Statue (Nike of Samothrace) is a fan favorite. The real one has her right leg stepping forward. The fake? She’s stepping with her left.
Then there’s the Ancient Statue, which is a Jomon period Dogu figurine. This is one of the "haunted" pieces. The fake version has antennae coming out of its head. At night, the eyes glow blue, and if you interact with it, it floats. Honestly, some people prefer the fake one because it looks like an alien. But if you want a complete museum, you need the one without the "ears."
The Gallant Statue (Michelangelo’s David) is another notorious one. In the fake version, David is carrying a book under his arm. The real David is, well, not carrying a book. It’s these small, almost humorous additions that define the fake paintings Animal Crossing experience.
Navigating the 2.0 Update Changes
When the 2.0 update dropped, things got a lot easier for art collectors. Harv’s Island became a permanent marketplace. You can now fund a stall for Redd, which means he’s available every day, not just once every few weeks when his boat happens to dock at your secret beach.
The strategy changed. Now, you can rotate his stock. If he has two fakes, buy one anyway. Throw it away or give it to a villager you don't like (though they might send it back with a polite "thanks?"). The next day, he’ll replace that slot with a new piece of art. It’s a much faster way to cycle through the inventory and find those elusive real pieces like the Great Statue or the Mysterious Painting.
Pro-Tips for the Dedicated Collector
Don't just rely on memory. The lighting on Redd’s boat is intentionally terrible. It’s dim, yellow-tinted, and designed to hide the flaws in the forgeries.
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- Use the Zoom: When you inspect a piece, the game gives you a close-up. Don't rush. Compare it to a real-world photo on your phone or a trusted guide.
- Check the Back: While you can’t see the "Certificate of Authenticity" until you buy it, real paintings often have a small piece of paper on the back when displayed in your home. Fakes don't have this.
- The "Haunted" Factor: If you enjoy the paranormal, some fakes are actually more valuable to the community than the real ones. The Graceful Painting (Beauty Looking Back) sometimes has a shadow on the back of the canvas that looks like a person.
- Villager Gifts: Occasionally, your villagers will send you art in the mail. Smug villagers are more likely to send fakes, while Jock or Lazy villagers might accidentally send you a masterpiece they "found." It's rare, but it happens.
Buying art from Redd is a lesson in patience. It’s one of the few parts of Animal Crossing that requires actual external knowledge—or at least a very good eye for detail. Whether you’re trying to impress Blathers or just want a cool statue for your garden, understanding the difference between a masterpiece and a "Redd special" is essential.
How to Handle Your Fakes
So you bought a fake. It happens to the best of us. What now?
You can't sell them to Nook’s Cranny. They’ll tell you it’s a "shame" and refuse the transaction. You can’t donate them. You could leave them on a mystery island or use a trash can furniture item to delete them from existence.
However, many players use them for decoration. Fake statues look great in overgrown "ruin" themed areas. The fake Informative Statue (Rosetta Stone) is a vibrant blue, which looks incredible in a neon-lit city-core island. The fake Ancient Statue that floats is a must-have for sci-fi or spooky builds.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit to Redd’s
- Consult a Reference: Keep a list of the "Always Genuine" art handy so you don't waste time inspecting them.
- Check the Lighting: If you're on the boat, pay extra attention to colors. The "Blue" vs. "White" distinction on the Wild Paintings is much harder to see in the dark.
- Empty Your Pockets: Ensure you have enough Bells and space. There’s nothing worse than finding a real Valiant Statue and realizing you forgot your wallet.
- Buy the Fakes (Sometimes): If you are at Harv’s Island, buy a fake just to force the stock to refresh tomorrow. It's a small price to pay for progress.
- Examine the Eyes: For the Wistful, Scary, and Graceful paintings, look specifically at the facial expressions. They are the most common "tells" for forgeries.
The museum is one of the most beautiful buildings in the game once it's finished. The art gallery, with its quiet music and echoing footsteps, feels like a real sanctuary. Getting there takes time, a lot of Bells, and a healthy skepticism of a certain orange fox. Keep your eyes sharp, your Bells ready, and don't let the "cousin" discount fool you. Every piece of art tells a story, even the ones with coffee stains or glowing eyes.
Next Steps for Your Island:
Head over to Harv's Island and check if you've unlocked Redd's stall yet. If not, save up 100,000 Bells to fund his trailer. This is the single most effective way to complete your art collection in 2026, as it provides a daily rotation instead of waiting for his random boat arrivals. Once unlocked, use the "buy and flush" method: purchase one fake every day if no real art is present to ensure two new options appear the following morning.