The production of forged Picassos naturally grew apace with the artist's acclaim. One needy artist, having acquired a supposed Picasso, had a friend show it to the master for authentication so that he could sell it. "A fake," Picasso declared.

Shorlty thereafter, the friend acquired two more alleged Picassos. When Picasso announced that these were forgeries as well, the man was utterly incredulous. "I saw you paint this last one with my own eyes!" he cried. Picasso's reply? "I can paint fake Picassos as well as anyone!"

[Picasso (who often disowned his own creations) kindly bought a forgery from the needy artist, paying four times what its grateful owner had hoped for.]