The Art of the Steal

Release Year: 2009

Director: Don Argott

Review: The art world isn't something I follow too closely.  I enjoy it, but its never anything I get too heated about.  The 'theft' of the Barnes Art Collection would fly completely under my radar even if it were making national headlines.  The film chronicles the efforts to forgo Albert Barnes's will and relocate the prestigious art collection from the suburbs to Philadelphia.  A move which they claim goes directly against Barnes's wishes, and is a deliberate attempt to steal the collection.

It is clear that the people who made this film are passionate about their cause and it's easy to understand their frustration.  Unfortunately where the film fails is making me feel that same passion.  Barnes was never too keen on making his art open to the public.  He and the foundation seem to turn their nose up to the general, art naive, museum goer.  It's only when the foundation became desperate for money that they really started letting people in.  So already I'm not being won over with their attitude on sharing art.  However, if there was a strong legal or ethical breech then I could get behind the plight of the Barnes Foundation.  The problem is that it takes a lot of money to properly house such a collection.  This is money that the foundation does not have.  If they expect the government to foot the bill to ensure the preservation of the art then its only reasonable that its in a location where more money can be brought in to help support it.  Its too bad that Barnes's will isn't being upheld, but if the money isn't there, then changes need to be made.  At least more people get view the paintings and, despite Barnes's view, I can't see how this is a bad thing.
Rating: 2.5/5