Everybody loves a good museum heist.
Not because people want to see precious objects snatched from some of the world’s most infamous institutions, but rather because of the fascination and thrill these heists provoke.
So when eight valuable pieces of history were stolen from the Louvre in Paris on Oct. 19, people took to the internet, posting TikToks and Instagram reels.
Thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery, which holds the royal collection of gems and the French crown jewels, according to the Louvre’s press release.
Laura Kalba, an associate professor of art history at the University of Minnesota, specializes in European art and its history. She has led students in study abroad classes to the Louvre, and is returning to the museum this spring to teach students about the impressionist paintings displayed in the museum.
Kalba emphasized that museum heists are so interesting to people because the items stolen are not mass-produced, commercial items that could be stolen from a department store. They are original, often handmade objects. She also noted that the objects aren’t meant to be appreciated for their financial value when on display in the museum.
“So the thieves, in a way, are taking these objects that are intentionally set apart from everyday commercial life and are bringing them kind of down to earth and reminding everyone of an aspect, the financial aspect, that is usually cast aside when we’re appreciating them in their museum context,” Kalba said. “So it’s a kind of upsetting of the natural order of things.”
Most have taken the crime lightheartedly, as a nice change of pace from the often anxiety-inducing and alarming headlines that dominate the news today. But part of the intrigue is also because of the concern that criminals could so easily break into such a highly esteemed museum.
Diane Mullin, senior curator at the Weisman Art Museum, noted that these heists raise concerns for people about security.
“There definitely is a kind of feeling of ‘these are so special, how could they not have that protected?’” Mullin said. “There is a lot of protection in those places, so it is kind of amazing, people find it amazing that something could break that.”
Ultimately, though, the thrilling, film-like aspect of museum heists is what pulls people in.
Jennifer Marshall, professor and director of undergraduate studies for the University of Minnesota art history department, highlighted this point.
“I feel like heists, even the word ‘heist,’ is already signaling popular interest because of heist movies,” Marshall said. “And this idea of a museum as being penetrable or vulnerable to theft feels impossible, so there’s a surprise with it, but there’s also even a little, like, heroism about it.”
Marshall highlighted that the heist almost reflects the Louvre’s history of being converted into a public museum during the 1790s revolution.
“There’s this sort of idea that those objects are for the people, and so there’s almost something about theft that flies in the face of that, you know, it’s stealing the people’s patrimony,” Marshall said. “But also a kind of liberation of royal riches feels right in keeping with the Louvre’s revolutionary foundations.”
There may never be a solid consensus on why humans are so intrigued by museum heists.
But the combination of immense financial value, concerns over security and the whimsical feeling that not every news headline has to involve blood and gore is enough to keep people interested.
