The Art of the Steal

The Art of the Steal tells a true story that involves the manipulation of a king's ransom in Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings. In the Julian Schnabel film Basquiat the character played by Michael Wincott describes, referring to Van Gogh but also meaning Basquiat, how every society refuses to recognize the genius of the time.
Dr. Albert Barnes was a person who recognized the genius of his day and in 1922 set up a foundation to preserve the art works he had collected. No doubt in this era Barnes got his Van Goghs and Renoirs at eBay prices. The docu The Art of the Steal chronicles the fate of this collection of art worth billions. At one point we're present at an auction where a 19th century painting fetches in the $30-millions. A commentator explains that this artist was collected by Barnes but he would never buy this particular work because it is one of the artist's lesser works.
Barnes died in a car accident in the early '50s and since that time his estate has been handled by executors of his last will and testament and the heads of his foundation. The Art of the Steal unfolds with a sense of mystery as to who will eventually control the rights to view these paintings. Barnes was adamant that the paintings remain in the house he built to, ah, house them. Modern politics sees the matter another way.
I was discussing this film before I saw it with this guy at work and he said, "I lived miles from the Barnes Foundation when I was growing up." He knew before I did how this story pans out. When you see The Art if the Steal the conclusion will strike you as profound as if this was a fictional mystery thriller.