Han van Meegeren was a Dutch painter and art forger, born on October 10, 1889. He gained notoriety in the 20th century for creating and selling fake paintings attributed to famous artists, particularly Johannes Vermeer. His forgeries were so convincing that they fooled art experts and collectors alike. In 1945, van Meegeren was arrested for collaborating with the Nazis by selling a supposed Vermeer to a German officer. To defend himself, he revealed his forgeries, claiming he had created them. His trial became a sensation, highlighting the complexities of art authenticity and the lengths to which he went to deceive the art world.