Blogcritics: Comments on Munch's THE SCREAM Stolen From Museum

Comment by Shark

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 08:05:41 EDT

"...An impassioned plea has been made to thieves who stole Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream on Sunday, asking them not to wreck the fragile picture." More from the BBC, including photos of the robbery, and a diagram showing how it took place. BTW: One hates to imagine how much damage a terrorist could do to a world-class art museum -- and this incident could certainly give them ideas.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 08:02:34 EDT

"Yep, I was down to the pawnshop getting my upper plate out of hock - goddam I missed those choppers - with some cash from the collection plate (just borrowed, mind you) and I saw this picher that looked one of those blow-up punch toys I once saw at a house I broke into, so I asked 'how much?' ...

Comment by Shark

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:20:08 EDT

Joe, re: Antiques Roadshow in Iraq -- man, how did I miss that?! I started laffin' when I read your line. What a routine I coulda done! Oh well. I'm sure they'll be more opportunities. (Does Iran, Syria, or North Korea, or Florida have a decent art museum?)

Comment by Rodney Welch

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 20:41:19 EDT

Turns out they are stolen for ransom. From Slate.com: "The stolen Scream is one of four versions painted by the Norwegian artist. The Munch Museum houses two of them, a third is in a private collection, and the fourth is in Oslo's National Gallery, from which it was stolen a decade ago. In that instance, the government refused the thieves' demand for $1 million for the painting's return, and it was rescued three months later. Officials expect to receive a ransom demand this time, too. France's Liberation noted that The Scream has "the honor, or perhaps the curse" of being "instantly recognizable almost anywhere on the planet." The Independent of Britain noted that the paintings are so famous that selling them would be nearly impossible. (As I suspected.)

Comment by visualsimplicity

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 20:05:42 EDT

I believe people steal famous art to sell to black market private collectors. You know, one's who will pay for the piece and put it away in a vault some where to never be seen by the light of day.

Comment by Rodney Welch

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:24:58 EDT

I can grasp why people would steal art in general, but something like "The Scream" or "Mona Lisa" or a Vermeer -- something that commands the attention of the world -- is a lot harder to fathom. It seems like you're just stealing a massive headache. I'm sure there's some advantage I'm just not seeing.

Comment by Joe

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:09:43 EDT

Right after the looting of the Baghdad Museum, I recommended that we send the Antique Roadshow to Iraq. What can I say? I'm an idea man.

Comment by Shark

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:07:20 EDT

BTW: Folks, as of 6:00 EST on Mon, 8/23/04 it really HASN'T BEEN FOUND. Paulie was playin' a little funny.

Comment by Shark

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:40:33 EDT

You could put it up in your game room -- assuming you don't have too many guests. Or you could ransom it for cash. BTW, Rodney, there are literally billions in stolen art out there, not stuff that everybody would recognize, but stolen just the same. And mainly from antiquities. Iraq, Tibet, and South America are currently being gutted of their cultural artifacts -- and a lot of them show up in your local museum -- bought with fake provenance from criminals BY curators and directors who turn a blind eye for the sake of the collection. Also: many of the Islamic terrorists are supporting themselves with these ancient trinkets. ~Don't get me started.

Comment by Rodney Welch

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 15:07:17 EDT

This is going to sound like a stupid question but I'll ask it anyway: what in the world do you DO with stolen art -- especially art that's, like, known to every schoolchild? Wouldn't it be way too hot to hold? Who could you sell it to that wouldn't be putting themselves at grave risk? And what does the putative buyer get out of the transaction, other than a burden that they themselves will somehow have to unload without alerting the authorities? Where's the profit?

Comment by Paulie at The Commons

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 11:38:14 EDT

It's been found Scroll down: you'll see it.