Thank you to @catapult for sending me Portrait of an Unknown Lady by María Gainza! This book is a translation by Thomas Bunstead. In this novel, an unnamed Argentinian narrator rises from an auction house employee to become a fairly prestigious art critic. Lead by her auction house mentor into the underground world of counterfeit art, the narrator is completely taken by the story of an infamous art forger.

The stories of the art forger Renée start with the mysterious Hotel Melancólico, a run-down old mansion formerly host to bohemian graduates of Argentinian Fine Arts Academy. After her mentor’s death, the narrator is swept up in finding out any information she can about Renée, to potentially author a book about her, or maybe just to satisfy her own curiosity.

The search is frustratingly unfruitful. The stories that remain about Renée are opaque and cryptic. While the narrator might not find the resolution she seeks, while searching for the full portrait of the artist, she ends up painting more of a portrait of herself.

I liked this one, but it wasn’t an especially quick or rewarding read for me. I don’t think I fully understood it. I’d recommend it if you particularly enjoy works in translation and books about the art world.