Authenticity of John Lennon signatures and artworks.
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Is this autographed sketch authentic by John Lennon?
Signed drawing
Description
The artwork is inscribed with a ballpoint pen on a paper displaying an aging yellowish hue due to prolonged exposure to light, as observed in Figure 2 (b) and (c). The paper’s change in tone, more pronounced in exposed areas, is clear evidence of its age and long-standing history, further verified by the accompanying photographs.
EVOLUTION OF LENNON SIGNATURE
Signature analysis
John Lennon’s signature, a unique emblem of his artistic identity, exhibits discernible transformations over the years. During his formative years leading up to mid-1963, the signature possesses distinctive characteristics that contrast with those that emerged post-mid1963.
DIFFERENT YEARS, DIFFERENT TELLS
Starting from the second half of 1963, a profound evolution in his autograph is evident. The ”J” transforms into a more stylized S-shape, commencing with a decorative projection from the signature’s left, closely aligned with the baseline. This projection then confidently connects to the top arc of the ‘J’, flowing seamlessly into the succeeding letters in a single stroke—a key hallmark distinguishing it from the non-closed loop ‘J’ of earlier years.
Moreover, variations in the portrayal of the letter ‘e’ further contribute to the intricacies of his signature. It alternates between a closed loop and a mirrored ‘3,’ branching from the opening ‘J’ to the apex of the inverted ‘3’ with a connecting thread, mirroring the signature specimen in question (Q1).
Processing the signatures
We converted the photos of signatures into squared B/W images, to use as input for our neural network, which works with sub-images of 256x256 pixels. 70% of the authentic signatures were separated for training, 10% for validation, and the remaining 20% were reserved for testing. We placed in a different folder the unknown signatures the customer provided us with.
John Lennon’s signature, a unique emblem of his artistic identity, exhibits discernible transformations over the years. During his formative years leading up to mid-1963, the signature possesses distinctive characteristics that contrast with those that emerged post-mid1963.
Prominently, the capital ‘J’ in his early signatures, as exemplified in Figure 4, was often rendered in a singular clockwise loop stroke. This loop could occasionally be non-closed or separate from the rest of the name. This formative style, while consistent in early autographs, notably lacks the more fluid and decorative flair that marks his later penmanship.
As we transition into the post-mid 1963 era, these characteristic changes in the ”J” and the ”e” are consistently echoed across the authenticated references in Tables 1 and 2.
The metamorphosis in Lennon’s penmanship not only accentuates the maturing elegance of his signature but also emphasizes the necessity for an exhaustive and discerning examination during the authentication process. Through meticulous scrutiny, one can appreciate the subtle stylistic nuances and evolutionary traits inherent in Lennon’s autographs, ultimately affirming their authenticity
Training our neural network
Our neural networks are trained on the images of authentic signatures
Graphological Assessment and Conclusion
The task of determining the authenticity of Lennon’s signature is not trivial. The dynamic and evolving nature of Lennon’s autograph throughout his career means that an exhaustive, meticulous examination is essential for accurate authentication. Our study has gone beyond a mere visual comparison; we have delved deep into the intricacies, patterns, and subtleties of Lennon’s hand over different periods.
While Lennon’s high-tier penmanship is a marvel in itself, it also presents challenges. The subtle changes in how he penned letters, especially the distinctive evolution in the formation of the initial ’J’, are vital pointers to authenticity. By juxtaposing the signature on the artwork with verified signatures from the same period, we observed striking similarities that corroborate its genuineness.
Moreover, the detailed and methodical graphological study we conducted considered not just the form but the flow, connection, and rhythm of the signature, all of which align impeccably with authentic Lennon signatures from the pertinent period.
In conclusion, after an exhaustive and rigorous analysis, we are confident in affirming that the signature on the artwork is authentic, echoing the unique penmanship of John Lennon from the era in question. This determination significantly enhances the artwork’s provenance and intrinsic value.
In light of the extensive analysis and comparison conducted against the collection of Admitted Signatures, we are confident in placing the date of the signature in question within the range of mid- 1963 to 1967. Based on the predominant characteristics observed, there is a higher probability that it originates from the first half of the mentioned time frame.
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