What specific clues indicated the Elne paintings were fake?

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Specific Indicators Pointed to the Falsification of Elne's Art Collection

The Elne museum's collection of Etienne Terrus paintings contained several specific indicators that revealed them to be forgeries. These included anachronistic elements within the artwork, issues with signatures, and the use of inappropriate materials, collectively leading experts to deem a significant portion of the displayed works as counterfeit.
Anachronistic Depictions Revealed Fakes

One painting featured a building that was constructed in the 1950s, a period long after Terrus's death in 1922. This anachronism in the depicted architecture served as a clear sign that the artwork could not have been created by the artist himself.
Signatures and Canvases Raised Suspicion

Further evidence of forgery emerged from the physical characteristics of the artworks. The ink signature on one piece was found to be so unstable that it could be wiped away with a gloved hand. Additionally, some of the canvases used for the paintings were identified as not being of the type typically employed by the original artist, Etienne Terrus.
Widespread Nature of Art Forgery

The discovery at the Elne museum, where 82 out of 140 works were identified as fakes by experts, highlights a broader issue in the art world. Art testing expert Yan Walther noted that the presence of misattributed and fake works is a global problem, affecting even major institutions, though not typically at such a high proportion as seen in Elne.

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What specific clues indicated the Elne paintings were fake?

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