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Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

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Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some museums do sell prints of public domain art, or licensed reproductions including oil painting reproductions. https://shop.famsf.org/collections/monet-the-late-years-art-... Not quite the same thing as an accurate clone

You can get 3D printed reproductions, too: - https://gizmodo.com/heres-how-to-get-your-own-picasso-for-un... - https://www.digitalmeetsculture.net/article/van-gogh-museum-... (probably a bit higher in quality and price, but I can’t find a link for it) - https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/business/van-gogh-museum-edi... (probably even better, but likely also very pricey)

Interesting that Starry Night is a bestseller for the start-up, but not available from the Van Gogh Museum in either collection.

Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that easy to sell counterfeit artwork. Anyone who's paying millions for an artwork will have the painting examined by a specialized consultant. The easiest way to spot a fake is to examine the pigments and whether a particular one was available by the time the artist lived. This is how the Rosales scandal was exposed in 2013.

Where are you going to find a specialized consultant expert enough to judge if its fake who also doesn't know that the painting he is looking at was recently stolen from a museum?

I don't think it's that hard to buy discretion if you're willing to pay a hefty fee. Besides how could anyone prove that you actually own the painting? I hire you, I fly you half the way around the world to a remote place where you're to examine the painting for a couple of weeks, you're paid and bye-bye.

I'm not saying that I know for a fact that this is how it's happening, but it doesn't seem far-fetched. What I do know is that a lot of what's happening in the art world is shrouded by a veil of secrecy.

Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that easy to sell counterfeit artwork. Anyone who's paying millions for an artwork will have the painting examined by a specialized consultant. The easiest way to spot a fake is to examine the pigments and whether a particular one was available by the time the artist lived. This is how the Rosales scandal was exposed in 2013.

Where are you going to find a specialized consultant expert enough to judge if its fake who also doesn't know that the painting he is looking at was recently stolen from a museum?

Are you implying that if they do recognize the original, they would report it as stolen?

It's an interesting question, and there are rewards for recovery so it's probably under the same trust calculus of any other criminal venture: pay enough that they don't.

Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#196

I 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.…

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Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#197

I 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.…

But we're talking about a painting that was sitting in a museum, stored and cared for in ideal conditions and available to the general public. Sounds like it already fulfilled its purpose, without needing to be stolen and traded around by thieves.

It would be easier and safer for them to trade a certificate that represents the theft of the painting.

Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#198

For anyone wanting to have a wonderful 90s flashback featuring the theft of high-end art, you can't do worse during shelter in place than to watch the Thomas Crown Affair: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0155267/

Thanks for the reminder. Rented it tonight via iTunes.

It really is an excellent movie.

Re: Dutch museum says van Gogh painting stolen in overnight raid

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "modern global economy" allows it? I suggest you look up the wealth (adjusted for inflation) of many, many historical business and political figures. Extreme wealth for a few is nothing new and if anything modern global economics and markets have done a massive leveling up of standards of living for many more people who aren't incredibly rich. That aside, how should something like your subjective notion of "disgu…

Seems like you took my statement "the modern global economy allows it," and inferred that I meant every system other than the modern one does not allow it. Of course not. Of course there are many systems that existed in the past that also allowed for gross levels of wealth disparity, but did I ever claim otherwise? > massive leveling up of standards of living For who? Impoverished workers in China and India? How have…

Bezos doesn’t even have $100B, so the premise of your argument is nonsense.

Owning shares of something isn’t the same as liquid cash. And valuing 1 share at the most recent market closing price the same as a founder liquidating their whole investment is also nonsense.

FYI, all those worlds richest lists are clickbait.

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