Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” was not insured, says the Munch Museum, after the painting was stolen over the weekend. “The theft has highlighted gaps in the insurance of major works around the world, with a large number not covered against being stolen, according to some of the UK’s leading art insurers. Many galleries and collectors cannot afford to pay for protection or do not think they will need it.”
Tag: 08.23.04
Munch Museum Defends Security
The director of the Munch Museum in Norway is defending the museum’s security measures after Munch’s “The Scream” was stolen. He said “a silent alarm went off and police arrived in minutes. ‘We think of security problems all the time and work with security’.”
Bonn Opera House Fire
The Bonn Opera House has been damaged by a fire. “The blaze started in the roof, where welding works were being carried out, authorities have said. There were no reported casualties but the fire and smoke plus water from firefighters also caused considerable damage to the stage and wings.”
Fate Of The Scream?
“Art experts said that given the fame of both “The Scream” and “Madonna,” it would be nearly impossible to sell them to a collector. They speculated instead that the thieves would demand some form of ransom. That is what happened in 1994, when another version of “The Scream” was stolen and later recovered.”
‘The Scream’ Is Us
It’s no wonder that Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” has such a strong hold on the public imagination, critic Adrian Searle writes. “The several versions of Munch’s Scream have become a kind of shorthand of modern alienation and despair, icons of anxiety and hopelessness.”
Greek Art: Not Just A Dig Site
For cultural boosters in Athens, having the world descend on their city is a chance to show off the work of their artists — and not just the dead ones. Alongside classical art, tourists drawn there for the Olympics are also encountering contemporary Greek art, which is very deliberately on public view.