Popularized across all mediums of fiction, the art heist has been a part of Western narrative since at least the 1400s. The modern art heist is a crime to which we collectively return; most of us are at once fascinated by the procedure of the actual theft and, at the same time, curious about objects that are valued so abstractly. The romantic cat burglars of the heist, well-dressed and sleek in fictional depictions (and often touted as gentleman thieves), are seen less as criminals and more as connoisseurs, stealing from imposing museums and often returning art to a singular space of solidarity. The art heist’s popularity in the cultural imagination may hinge on how valuable we perceive art to be, but its allure is also strengthened by a sense of mystery as to the art thief’s motivation, as well as to how complicated any given robbery turns out to be. Continue reading from JSTOR Daily
