"Apre van heste" means "after Van Hest" ... it's a copy of something by the artist named van Hest buy an artist who is not van Hest.

If the backing is original and not a repro, it would be very valuable.
But you don't say much about the picture...is it an oil painting? water color? print, framed under glass? on canvas or board or paper?
Lots of questions! LOL!
Linda C

I just took a look at it with a magnifying glass. It is definitely a print. I tiny marking at the lower left bottom says EJS Mfg.Co.NY. The title of the print in pencil is Chateau at Ravenstine. And, I should have been more careful about the newspaper. It shows what it says below in the photo and the other photo shows the newspaper and date. I guess I didn't think the newspaper article was so important when I posted. I do have another newspaper with the other headline somewhere that I should probably look for now.

Now the question arises, is it an original print or a photographic reproduction? Is there an artist's signature? You say "apres van heste"...where was that info from?
There are tons and tons of European eetchings and engravings, some colored some not...seems that was ( and still is) a popular souviniere to bring back from a trip. I have several I have bought for about $1.00 at local household sales. Walking through Piazza san Marco at night about 10 years ago, every corner had an artist selling his wares..8 by 10 watercolors for about $15...some were very nice.
Linda C

Apres van heste was penciled in the bottom lower right hand side on the matting. The other side in pencil is the name of the picture. Even with a magnifying glass, I cannot tell what it is although the name of the company that made it is listed above apres van heste right in the picture itself which makes me think this is a print.

I am thinking it is a photographic reproduction but why would it be hand signed? Isn't that a bit unusual?

This used to hang in our hallway 25 years ago and it was taken down when we painted. I put it back up again in our stairwell this morning. It does really look good there since the muted colors go well with the oriental stair runner.

I realize that 1945 does not make this an antique and I assume that was the date that is was created, but finding information about it has me stumped.

Very unusual for a photographis repro to be signed in 1944...not so now. witness all those Kinkaid prints for one example as well as Bateman and P Buckley Moss.
Can you tell with a glass? Look and see, a photograph is made of tiny dots, an etching or litho you will be able to see brush strokes and irregularities.
Linda C