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What are the three main methods used to create visual-art forgeries?

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kouros — Art fraud Kouros of uncertain provenance, formerly on display with the label “about 530 bc or modern forgery,” dolomitic marble; in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California.

There are three primary methods used to create visual-art forgeries, all of which involve an intent to deceive:1

Exact Copy: This is the most common and easiest method to produce, involving the direct replication of an existing work of art. While often the simplest to detect, it can be deceptive if the copy is of high quality or if the original's provenance is unclear.12
Composite of Parts (Pastiche): In this method, a forger combines elements from various genuine works by an artist—such as specific figures, hands, or compositional motifs—to create a new, "original" composition. By incorporating authentic-looking details, the forger makes the piece more convincing to collectors and experts.2
Stylistic Imitation: This involves creating a new work in the style of a specific artist or historical period, which is then presented with a deliberately false attribution. This is considered the most difficult type of forgery to detect, as it requires the forger to master the techniques, conventions, and attitudes of the era they are imitating.12

It is important to note that creating a work "in the style of" an artist is not inherently forgery; it only becomes fraudulent when accompanied by an intent to deceive, such as a false signature or misrepresentation of the work's origin.1