…I’m guessing, at least. Armed Robbers Steal Munch’s ‘The Scream’ in Oslo:
OSLO (Reuters) – Armed robbers stole “The Scream” and another masterpiece by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch on Sunday in a bold daytime raid on an Oslo museum packed with terrified tourists.
Two masked robbers ran into the Munch Museum, threatened staff with a handgun and forced people to lie down before grabbing “The Scream,” an icon of existentialist angst showing a waif-like figure against a blood-red sky, and “Madonna (news – web sites).”
Some stunned tourists said they feared they were victims of a terror attack. The men yanked the masterpieces from the wall, walked out the front door and escaped in a black Audi car driven by a third man who had been waiting outside, police said.
Now, aside from an uncontrollable urge to post this one with a Have you seen me? tagline – and, of course, a relief that at least nobody got hurt – my major impression from all of this is that it reminds me a little of the Mona Lisa heist early in the last century, in the sense that I suspect that a ransom demand isn’t going to be forthcoming. I’m wildly guessing that a wealthy collector wanted the paintings for his (or her) very own. So… either they find them and the crooks right away, or else it’ll be twenty years.
Blogged this a few hours ago, where I glancingly noted what I’ll mention here, which is that it seems to me a lot more reminiscent of the last time one of Munch’s version of The Scream was stolen (and held for ransom) in 1994.
turning off href (hopefully) and noting that “Madonna*” is a much more satisfying image than “Scream,” which has been appropriated into every sort of tacky knickknack and parody imaginable.
*Munch did several versions of this. This jpeg is not meant to imply this is the one that was stolen, but it certainly looked more or less like this.
I just know Professor Moriarity was behind this.
At least somebody’s getting a laugh out of it….
Edward: Well, yeah; a nude-Madonna outfit requires a higher MPAA rating than a Scream mask and black cloak. 😉
I just know Professor Moriarity was behind this.
I was thinking Colonel Mustard.
I’m thinking it was swiped by some perpetually annoyed psychotherapists, and will be returned in a slightly altered state. One that removes any value it once had, is likely the intention.
” turning off href (hopefully) and noting that “Madonna*” is a much more satisfying image than “Scream,”‘
My favorite is “Vampyr”, http://www.munchauksjonen.no/kataloger/2001-6/16.htm, where he has an ex- sucking blood from his neck. One wonders why any woman ever dated him, he was completely off his trolley.
” which has been appropriated into every sort of tacky knickknack and parody imaginable.”
Which is fair enough. Incidently, I once saw an exhibition of a Munch’s work over his lifetime. He was hospitalized for his depression and mania, and was actually cured. Unfortunately, the paintings he produced afterwards were, well, crap compared to the work he did when he was swinging-from-the-lightbulb-looney.