Earlier quoted context omitted.
Couldn’t museums and other art holders create their own authenticated market of accurate clones by giving copiers access?
The ethics of such a practice would be dubious at best.
Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
131–140 of 240 posts
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#132What is the end goal for the thieves? Seeing as you obviously can't sell stolen artwork on the open market- how many insanely wealthy private collectors can there be out there, who are willing to risk substantial prison time to own a stolen painting? I think many or most people who have that much money probably made it legally and don't have that kind of risk tolerance. And I doubt many mob boss/Tony Soprano types re…
As a rich art collector, you can buy a real Van Gogh for a fraction of its price. Can you risk jail? Sure, but who will know you own it anyway? It's not like you're going to expose it in your living room anyway. Not only that, but as soon as you know there can be at least one person in the world willing to buy that stolen piece of art, it becomes a great asset to own even if you're not the said art collector. Let's s…
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#133Earlier quoted context omitted.
Interestingly as I understand it part of the point is that by stealing the original you are able to create both better counterfeits and a market for them. Think about it — obviously no one will buy a counterfeit "Starry Night" or whatever if it's hanging in a museum. But if it's stolen, all of a sudden there's the possibility that they can buy the original. Not only that, but the counterfeit, created with extensive a…
Couldn’t museums and other art holders create their own authenticated market of accurate clones by giving copiers access?
Prints already exist, but nobody is paying big bucks for one.
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#134I fully approve of art theft. There should be honor among thieves of course. You shouldn't damage art. But if a painting isn't stolen now and then, well it wasn't worth painting in the first place. Really, what is art for but to enliven the doldrums of the rich? A moment or three of aesthetic pleasure, bragging at parties, but really most days it's just so much wallpaper. No, the true purpose of art is to be stolen.…
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#135What is the end goal for the thieves? Seeing as you obviously can't sell stolen artwork on the open market- how many insanely wealthy private collectors can there be out there, who are willing to risk substantial prison time to own a stolen painting? I think many or most people who have that much money probably made it legally and don't have that kind of risk tolerance. And I doubt many mob boss/Tony Soprano types re…
Why? It's perfect. Cartels/mobsters love extravagant things, art is convenient for money laundering, and they already DGAF about the law.
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/3-drug-kingpins-art-adored...
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#136I fully approve of art theft. There should be honor among thieves of course. You shouldn't damage art. But if a painting isn't stolen now and then, well it wasn't worth painting in the first place. Really, what is art for but to enliven the doldrums of the rich? A moment or three of aesthetic pleasure, bragging at parties, but really most days it's just so much wallpaper. No, the true purpose of art is to be stolen.…
Or the painting gets sold to someone shady overseas for a private collection and it's never seen again. It's not like in movies, there's no romance or drama to it. Stolen art doesn't benefit the common good.
... until it's stolen again and the cycle repeats. Sure, it might take a few generations, but it will come around again.
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
Interestingly as I understand it part of the point is that by stealing the original you are able to create both better counterfeits and a market for them. Think about it — obviously no one will buy a counterfeit "Starry Night" or whatever if it's hanging in a museum. But if it's stolen, all of a sudden there's the possibility that they can buy the original. Not only that, but the counterfeit, created with extensive a…
Couldn’t museums and other art holders create their own authenticated market of accurate clones by giving copiers access?
Not quite the same thing as an accurate clone
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#138I fully approve of art theft. There should be honor among thieves of course. You shouldn't damage art. But if a painting isn't stolen now and then, well it wasn't worth painting in the first place. Really, what is art for but to enliven the doldrums of the rich? A moment or three of aesthetic pleasure, bragging at parties, but really most days it's just so much wallpaper. No, the true purpose of art is to be stolen.…
Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
As a rich art collector, you can buy a real Van Gogh for a fraction of its price. Can you risk jail? Sure, but who will know you own it anyway? It's not like you're going to expose it in your living room anyway. Not only that, but as soon as you know there can be at least one person in the world willing to buy that stolen piece of art, it becomes a great asset to own even if you're not the said art collector. Let's s…
I don't disagree with your comment. There are probably collectors who think like that. But I guess most collectors really like to show off their collections. Why having a good art collection if you cannot show it to anyone?