Monday, May 24

Stolen Art

The following five paintings were stolen from the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, on May 20th. According to About.com
The single thief, who gained access by breaking a window, went undetected as he or she cut Matisse, Braque, Picasso, Modigliani and Léger canvases from their frames and left with them. Reports of the total value of the paintings have been exaggerated in some accounts (the Modigliani and Léger works were not major), though collectively they are easily worth over $200 million (US).
I am continually baffled by people who perpetrate art theft. What do these people expect to do with these artworks? Especially when they've been cut from their frames? If you know of the whereabouts of these five paintings, or of any other stolen works for that matter, please contact INTERPOL.
Henri Matisse Pastoral 1905


Pablo Picasso The Pigeon with Peas 1911-12

Henri Matisse Pastoral 1905


Georges Braque Olive Tree near Estaque 1906

Amedeo Modigliani Woman with a Fan (Lunia Czechowska) 1919