
The duck painting in *Suits* is first referenced in season 6, when lawyer Elliott Stemple steals Harvey Specter's original duck painting to hurt him during an intense rivalry. The painting is eventually returned to Specter in a moving moment in season 9, episode 7, when Donna Paulsen gives him a replica as an expression of her love. The painting serves as a symbol of Specter's difficult relationship and ultimate reconciliation with his mother, who unexpectedly passes away in the same season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Owner of the painting | Harvey Specter |
| Artist | Harvey's mother, Lily Specter |
| Symbolises | Harvey's dwindling relationship and ultimate reconciliation with his mother |
| First referenced | Season 6 |
| Lost to | Another lawyer, Elliot Stemple |
| Original retrieved by | Donna Paulsen |
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What You'll Learn
- The duck painting is a symbol of Harvey Specter's relationship with his mother
- The painting is first referenced in season 6 when it is stolen by Elliot Stemple
- In season 9, Donna gives Harvey the original painting as a gift
- The painting is a replica, found with the help of Alex Williams
- The painting is revealed to be a duck, not an alligator, by the artist

The duck painting is a symbol of Harvey Specter's relationship with his mother
The duck painting in *Suits* is a symbol of Harvey Specter's tumultuous relationship with his mother. The painting is first referenced in season 6 when Harvey's rival, Elliot Stemple, steals the original painting to hurt him. This sets the stage for the painting as a symbol of Harvey's relationships and his vulnerability.
The painting represents Harvey's relationship with his mother, which is strained throughout the show's nine seasons. After his father's death, Harvey's relationship with his mother is affected by her marriage to his father's friend, with whom she had an affair. This leads to a period of estrangement between Harvey and his mother, which is reflected in the loss and recovery of the painting.
In season 9, Donna Paulsen, Harvey's love interest, gives him a replica of the painting as a gift. This prompts Harvey to reach out to his mother and attempt to reconcile. He apologises for his long-held grudge and the two seem to be on the path to repairing their relationship. However, in a tragic turn of events, it is revealed that his mother has unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack.
The duck painting thus becomes a symbol of the complex dynamics between Harvey and his mother, reflecting their strained history, his vulnerability in losing the painting, and his eventual attempt at reconciliation. It serves as a reminder of the importance of family and the potential for forgiveness and healing.
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The painting is first referenced in season 6 when it is stolen by Elliot Stemple
The duck painting in Suits, a TV show centred around lawyer Harvey Specter, is first referenced in season 6 when it is stolen by Elliot Stemple. The painting, which hung in Specter's apartment for many years, is a symbol of Specter's tumultuous relationship with his mother. In season 6, Specter faces an intense rivalry with Stemple, who steals the original duck painting to hurt Specter. Stemple threatens to “put this firm in the ground” if Specter does not give him the painting. This theft is a significant moment in the show, as it highlights the power dynamics between the characters and the sentimental value of the painting for Specter.
The duck painting resurfaces as a pivotal plot point in season 9 of Suits. After losing the painting to Stemple, Specter works to get it back, eventually succeeding in a moving moment in episode 7. The painting is returned to Specter by Donna Paulsen, a romantic interest and colleague of Specter's, who has a forger replicate the painting exactly. This act of love and support from Donna helps Specter reconcile with his mother, as he reaches out to her at the end of the episode.
The duck painting also holds deeper significance for Specter, beyond its connection to his mother. In a flashback during season 2, episode 8 ("Rewind"), the painting is shown to be connected to the death of Specter's father. In the flashback, which takes place nine years before the current timeline of the episode, Specter is informed of his father's death. This revelation adds another layer of emotion and importance to the duck painting, making it more than just a “goofy” piece of art in Specter's office.
The painting also serves as a plot device in the show, driving the narrative forward and creating tension between the characters. Specter's desire to regain possession of the painting after its theft by Stemple creates a sense of anticipation and predictability that is enjoyable for viewers. It showcases the lengths to which characters will go to exert power over one another and the value they place on sentimental items.
Overall, the duck painting in Suits is more than just a piece of artwork; it is a symbol of Specter's relationships, a catalyst for character development, and a plot device that adds depth and emotion to the story. Its presence in the show highlights the intricate dynamics between the characters and the importance of family and reconciliation.
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In season 9, Donna gives Harvey the original painting as a gift
In season 9, Donna gives Harvey the original duck painting as a gift. The painting holds a lot of sentimental value for Harvey, as it is a symbol of his tumultuous relationship and eventual reconciliation with his mother. The painting was first referenced in season 6 when Harvey faced a rivalry with Elliott Stemple, who stole the original painting to hurt Harvey.
The moment when Donna gives Harvey the painting is an emotional one. It is revealed that the gift is an expression of her love for him. This moment prompts Harvey to reach out to his mother and attempt to repair their strained relationship. He apologizes for taking so long to forgive her and for letting their past issues cover up any good memories. Unfortunately, it is then revealed that his mother has passed away unexpectedly, which is devastating news for Harvey.
The duck painting has been a significant element in the show, with fans wondering about its backstory and why Harvey had it in his office. It was even referred to as a "goofy painting." The painting was created by Harvey's mother, and in a flashback, we see a photo of Harvey watching her paint it. This adds to the sentimental value of the painting and explains why it is so important to Harvey.
The painting also serves as a plot device, as it is used by Elliott to gain power over Harvey. Elliott knows that stealing the painting will affect Harvey in a way that taking money or other material possessions cannot. This sets up a storyline where Harvey works to regain the painting and assert his power over Elliott. Overall, the duck painting is more than just a piece of art; it represents family relationships, power struggles, and emotional moments in the lives of the characters.
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The painting is a replica, found with the help of Alex Williams
The duck painting in Suits is a replica of a painting with a rich backstory. The painting was originally owned by Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht), who had a difficult relationship with his mother. The painting symbolised their dwindling relationship and ultimate reconciliation.
In season 6, Harvey faced an intense rivalry with Elliott Stemple (Patrick Fischler), who stole the original duck painting to hurt Harvey. Elliott threatened to “put this firm in the ground” if Harvey did not let him take the painting. Knowing the sentimental value of the painting to Harvey, Donna Paulsen (Harvey's love interest and eventual partner) worked with Alex Williams (Dulé Hill) to find a forger who could replicate the painting exactly.
In one of the final scenes of episode 7 in season 9, Donna gave the replica painting to Harvey as an expression of her love. This led to a touching moment where Harvey reached out to his mother and had an emotional conversation about his relationship with his father and the grudge he held against her. The replica painting thus became a symbol of reconciliation, both for Harvey and his mother and for Harvey and Donna.
The painting's backstory was further enhanced by flashbacks in season 2, which revealed that the painting was connected to the death of Harvey's father. In the episode "Rewind," it is established that Gordon Specter, Harvey's father, died in 2007, nine years before the current year in the show. The painting, therefore, served as a reminder of Gordon's death and the impact it had on Harvey and his mother.
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The painting is revealed to be a duck, not an alligator, by the artist
The painting of a duck in *Suits* is revealed to be a duck, not an alligator, by the artist. The painting is first referenced in season 6, when Harvey Specter faces a rivalry with Elliott Stemple, who steals the original painting to hurt Harvey. The painting is significant because it symbolises Harvey's difficult relationship with his mother and their ultimate reconciliation. In one of the final scenes of season 9, episode 7, Donna, a love interest of Harvey, gives him the duck painting as an expression of her love.
The painting is revealed to have been painted by Harvey's mother, Lily Specter, and it is presumed that a photo of her painting it is discovered by Harvey. The painting is also mentioned in season 2, episode 8, "Rewind", where it is revealed that Gordon Specter, Harvey's father, has died. The duck painting is presumed to be a symbol of Harvey's father's death and his complicated relationship with his mother.
The duck painting is described as "goofy" and a "stupid duck painting", and some viewers hoped it was a bluff by Harvey. However, the painting holds sentimental value for Harvey, and when he loses it to Elliott, he is hurt and feels a sense of loss. The painting is eventually returned to Harvey in a moving moment in season 9, episode 7. The moment is made even more emotional by the revelation that his mother has died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
The painting is a symbol of Harvey's relationships with both his parents and his journey of reconciliation with his mother. It is a touching moment when Donna gives him the painting, and it shows how important sentimental value can be.
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Frequently asked questions
The duck painting is a symbol of Harvey's dwindling relationship and ultimate reconciliation with his mother.
The painting was first referenced in season 6 when Harvey faced a rivalry with Elliott Stemple, who stole the painting to hurt him.
Donna gave Harvey the painting as an expression of her love. It is also revealed that the painting was originally done by Harvey's mother.
The duck painting symbolises the importance of sentimental value. It also serves as a reminder of Harvey's childhood and his complicated family dynamics.
After losing the original duck painting, Harvey eventually gets it back in a moving moment in episode 7 of season 9.











































