The Art of the Steal is one of the most taut political thrillers I have ever seen. The fact that the film is a documentary only lends to its intrigue.
Helmed by Rock School documentarian Don Argott, Art centers on the ups and downs of the world’s grandest Post-Impressionist art collection dubbed The Barnes. Now, admittedly, this simple description was what kept me from moving the film up on my Netflix queue. Sure, it sounded interesting – but I kept favoring flicks that looked exciting. Don’t be similarly fooled. The Art of the Steal is far more engrossing and accessible than I’d imagined. It’s history doc meets heist flick, and it literally kept me on the edge of my seat.
The doc begins by introducing an eccentric but pivotal figure in the modern art world. Albert C. Barnes was a turn-of-the-Century self-made man, who spent his great wealth educating himself about and later collecting Modern art. When Barnes initially presented his collection, which includes numerous Renoirs, Cézannes, Matisses, and Picassos, the elitist socialites of his hometown, Philadelphia, scoffed at the works, calling them “primitive.” Barnes, a man with a great eye for art, was ahead of his time. Scorning his critics, he built his own establishment – The Barnes Foundation – where he housed the world’s greatest private collection of Modern art.
Barnes believed great art was not meant to be “upholstery” for the mansions of the wealthy, so his foundation served as a school to those who wished to study art as he had. The Barnes, with an estimated value of $25 to $30 billion, became legendary is art circles, while Barnes himself, with his fuck-you-money and attitude, earned some powerful enemies. Fearing that his collection would be divvied/destroyed after his death, Barnes scripted a will he felt ensured the collection would be displayed as he’d intended (predominantly for educational use) in perpetuity. When Albert C. Barnes looked at the art he’d passionately collected, he saw beauty that held the power to educate. His rivals saw dollar signs. The Art of the Steal centers on this battle.
Because the film repeatedly shocked and amazed me with its tale of bureaucrats masquerading as art appreciators, I won’t say much more concerning the battle over the Barnes. But I will say this: The Art of the Steal is one of the most gripping documentaries I’ve ever seen – and I’m an avid doc watcher. The interview subjects are passionate and engaging. The impeccable pacing builds tension that is almost overwhelming, and the central theme of art versus commerce is one to which most film fans can relate.
Do yourself a favor, and check out this brilliant investigative look into the bureaucracy and greed that’s shaping Philadelphia’s art scene.
The Art of the Steal is available on DVD and Netflix Instant Watch.
9/10