The purpose of this study is to analyze how the Western art market works. The first chapter provides a brief historical overview of how the art market and its rulers operate, emphasizing 19th-century Paris, where the profession of the dealer flourished as we know it today, and World War II, where many works were destroyed and thus opened the way for counterfeit trade. In the second chapter, the financial basis of the art market, the way of valuing works of art, and the relations between artists, dealers, and collectors are analyzed. The third chapter is devoted to forgery. While studying the example of de Hory, conclusions are drawn regarding the value of copies and their current role. Continuing, an extensive analysis of A. Kiarostami’s film “Certified Copy” is carried out under the pretext of creating a discussion on the value of authenticity. Finally, the thesis presents the analysis today.

Keywords: dealers, art market, auctions, price, pricing, authenticity, fake, replica, forgery, avant-garde.