Counterfeit Self-portrait (2006)
BORN IN 1629 TO POOR, BUT DISHONEST, PARENTS IN DELFT, HOLLAND Daniel Milberg began his artistic studies at an early age under the tutelage of the great Dutch master Jan Vermeer (1632-75). His paintings, however, were problematic (not to mention his drawings and etchings). Vermeer was encouraging, but, after watching Milberg struggle for several years, tactfully suggested that he might want to try something more suited to his talents, such as necromancy. Milberg, always sensitive to criticism, was deeply hurt. The two apparently never spoke again.
Milberg had to wait almost 350 years for the perfection of the device that would allow him to express himself artistically: the personal computer. Introduced to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere while an intern at WGBY television, he never looked back. He continued honing his graphic design skills at the cable television company AT&T Broadband. In 2004 he decided to drop all outside distractions and develop his art.
Milberg draws his inspiration from many sources, among them; William Harnett and the other meticulous trompe l’oeil painters of the 19th century; Francisco Goya’s disturbing etchings The Disasters of War, and J.S.G. Boggs, the great contemporary currency artist.
In a remarkable parallel to Vermeer, he has enjoyed only slight recognition during his short life, and his work has often been forgotten or confused with that of others.
Source: Eine Existenzphilosophische Analyse des Dadaismus, H. Heimlich (Prague, 1901)
