The message and value of a work of visual art depend to a great extent on the artist with whom it is associated. Nevertheless, it happens that artists want to cut the ties to an artwork, for example because they can no longer identify with it or because it is a fake. Juliane Kotzur examines from a legal perspective the ways in which a work can be repudiated: From a mere refusal to acknowledge it publicly to a demand to destroy the work. As a strong counterweight, the interests of the owner of the work of art in question are taken into account. The integrity and value of his property could be severely impaired by a disavowal. The conflict between the owner and the author continues with his legal successors after his death.