THE ART THIEF

A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession

by Michael Finkel

Also published in 2023, I may be the last person to The Art Thief readers’ party.  It has certainly appeared on an astonishing number of bestseller lists, and now I understand why. Finkel writes with prose similar to that used in the best crime novels, even though his account is real.  He takes his research and interview materials and skillfully draws the reader into the stories behind the real-life art thefts.

In The Art Thief, Finkel explores multiple episodes from the hundreds of brazen art thefts that Stephane Breitweiser and Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus committed in the 1990s in many European countries, often in broad daylight. The thefts are absolutely breathtaking in their audaciousness.  But as interesting as the thefts are, Finkel develops an even more intriguing psychological picture of the two thieves.  Stealing art for Breitweiser was about possessing the beauty of the pieces—all for his own enjoyment and that of his girlfriend, Anne-Catherine.  He never intended to sell any of the stolen pieces. Rather, he languished amidst all the artwork in his tiny, attic apartment, stimulated in every way by their beauty. Finkel introduces Breitweiser’s mother along the way, and her role as both enabler of the thefts and withholder of her love adds another fascinating dimension to the story.

The Art Thief won’t knock you over with its literary writing style.  But, Finkel has written a fascinating narrative about a years-long crime spree that remains clear in my mind weeks after finishing the book.  If you haven’t already read it, go ahead, indulge. (Liz)