Children have admitted that they were “fooled” by a work of modern art. Hundreds of youngsters have said that they “could never believe” in a million, gazillion years, that the work of art was produced by an adult.

“It’s amazing,” said 6-year old Tom from Rochdale. “When daddy told me it wasn’t done by someone in my class, I dropped my ice cream. I cried a bit, yes, it was a nice ice cream. Vanilla. But then I thought about the painting. I’d never, ever, have thought it was done by an adult!”

“Just look at the thumbprints! That’s what I do at school. And the dribbles of paint. Brilliant. My teacher keeps telling me not to spill paint or use my thumbs, but now I’ve seen this painting, I’m going to try it myself.”

8-year old Jemima, from Surrey, said that she was thinking of taking up modern art. “It’s obviously much easier than normal art,” she mused. “I mean, my teacher won’t even hang up my normal art on the wall so normal art is too hard. I’m going to do modern art from now on.”

2-year old Benjamin studied the work hard, and clapped his hands together in joy, obviously declaring it a masterpiece, and set about making his own version of the picture.

“I like”, he bleated. “I like lots and lots,” he continued, before using his fingers to paint an alarmingly similar picture. Proud father Dan looked on, visibly counting the thousands of pounds he could stand to gain.

Art critic Cy von Snobbenhoffer said that the children were simply not appreciative of the work that went into the masterpiece. “These under-educated infants have no perspective – no understanding of the vision of this artist. Anyone, even the most stupid 2-year-old, could see that this painting is a representation of a southern Italian town. By a man high on opium.”

However, the kids love it. 4-year old Freddie from London said that he is going to copy it for his bedroom wall – if his parents will let him: “I think it’s a lovely painting,” he said. “And I’m going to have it all over my bedroom wall. This wall, that wall, that wall and that wall. And the door. And the ceiling. And the floor.”