Munch's `The Scream' Stolen at Oslo Museum

[Regus]

Aug. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Two Edvard Munch paintings including the masterpiece ``The Scream'' were stolen at gunpoint from an Oslo museum, the second time in a decade the artist's work has been taken from the Norwegian capital.

As many as three men took the works from the Munch Museum around 11:10 a.m. local time, said Hilde Walsoe, head of operations with the Oslo police. The thieves threatened a female security guard before leaving with the painting and another titled ``Madonna.''

Another version of the famous `Scream'' work was stolen from Norway's national gallery in 1994 during the Winter Olympics. The painting was recovered in three months, after a sting operation including police from Norway and the U.K.

``The Scream has come more and more to be accepted as Edvard Munch's most significant motif,'' according to the Munch Museum's Web site. The work ``depicts the symbol of modern man, for whom god is dead and for whom materialism provides no solace.''

There are five separate versions of ``Madonna'' painted by Munch between 1893 and 1894. Munch was born in 1863 and died in 1944.

No shots were fired in the theft today. The criminals were last seen leaving in a Black Audi A6, Walsoe said. Police are searching the capital for the suspects.

Leonardo da Vinci's ``Mona Lisa'' was stolen in Paris in 1911 and lost for two years, according to the British Broadcasting Corp. Other famous art thefts include 20 Van Gogh paintings, worth $10 million each, taken in Amsterdam in 1991, and paintings by Rembrandt and Renoir in Stockholm in 2000.

That's awful.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news...top_world_news

[ChaoofNee]

That does suck, indeed.
Odd, though. I'd never expect an art heist to actually happen.

[Mman]

art heists are quite common. I believe there is something amazing like 10 billion$ worth of major stolen art out there.

[Videodrone]

One security guard was all that came into contact with the thieves? With a museum having, I'm certain, millions in art work, don't you think there would be tighter securtiy?

[Gohron]

One security guard was all that came into contact with the thieves? With a museum having, I'm certain, millions in art work, don't you think there would be tighter securtiy?

Yeah, definately. I would figure they would have guards with assault rifles and whatnot.

[Zenigata]

In 1994 the thieves got in and out using a ladder, no guns or anything, I believe. Take a look at Norway's statistics for crime and such and you'll see why they don't have heavily armed guards everywhere.

And, save for private buyers, those paintings will be rather hard to sell, I imagine.

[cka]

He's screaming for justice! Haha I made a pun!

[Stone]

If I was going to be a professional thief, it seems like art thievery is the way to go. You associate with the right people, you get to steal interesting stuff. You make your getaways in a black A6, not a 20 year old Dodge Diplomat.

[g0zen]

Fuck art theft, I'd just get into art forgery and make millions selling knock-offs I made in a week to rich yuppies.

[arjue]

And, save for private buyers, those paintings will be rather hard to sell, I imagine.

There is without a doubt a black market for them, and I'm sure they'll get a fuck load of money (hell, one of them is one of the most famous paintings ever). Some Collectors would kill for the scream painting.