Art: Poppy Flowers by Vincent van Gogh

Some of Vincent van Gogh’s works were in sequence with each slightly different from the next, but also very much tied together in theme (1). As new paints and other tools become improved in the 19^th Century they also reflect differently on canvas. He did not paint what he saw but tried to paint how he felt about the images (2). This led to some of the most unique paintings in the world. Some of this work comes from the poverty and personality of the painter who sought to recreate a world on canvas.

Van Gogh painted flowers on a regular basis. He didn’t have much money to pay models so he would paint inanimate objects instead. It is believed that many of his poppy flower paintings came from images of fields in Southern France. Vincent lived much of his life relatively poor and had to stretch to buy supplies and other items needed to keep his work going. 

He states, “And now for what regards what I myself have been doing, I have lacked money for paying models else I had entirely given myself to figure painting. But I have made a series of colour studies in painting, simply flowers, red poppies, blue corn flowers and myosotys, white and rose roses, yellow chrysanthemums-seeking oppositions of blue with orange, red and green, yellow and violet seeking les tons rompus et neutres to harmonize brutal extremes. Trying to render intense colour and not a grey harmony. Now alter these gymnastics I lately did two heads which I dare say are better in light and colour than those I did before (3)

The painting has been stolen twice from Cairo's Mahmoud Khalil Museum. The first time, the painting disappeared in 1978 and recovered in Kuwait (4). It was believed at the time the first theft occurred security was lax. The same problem occurred again in 2010 and is still missing. Authorities thought they found the painting when a couple was boarding a plane to Italy (5). As of today, it is still missing without a trace. Perhaps someday it will show up and we will see the original again.

Over 1,400 Stolen Famous Art Pieces Found in Munich

Village Girl with Goat-Lost Art Piece

Authorities found long lost art by famous masters such as Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse and Otto Dix in a Munich apartment. It is believed that such works were stolen during the Nazi Era and disappeared into the ashes of history. The total value of the 1,400 pieces seized could easily be over a billion dollars sparking interest from a variety of groups and parties. 

Most of the works are well preserved and part of the list called “degenerative art” that the regime felt were not in alignment with local culture. Such art was often either removed or destroyed in an attempt to provide what was seen at the time as a purer culture. Some artists were fined or jailed for breaking cease and desist orders on their painting activities. 

When art was seized sometimes it was sold overseas for hundreds of millions of dollars. The regime would hire someone to help sell the art and remove it from the country. It is believed that the holder’s father was hired to do just that. He was discovered with a large stash of cash and a search warrant discovered the source. 

As no major lists have been released it makes a number of major art enthusiasts wonder precisely what the paintings are and who the original owners were. Many great masterpieces offered to the world at one time may change the nature of the art market in a profound way through the discovery of lost work and techniques. Despite the recent hidden find it is possible others are out there just under someone’s kitchen floor, root cellar or in a secret basement doorway. 

More Reading: 

New York Times 

The Globe and Mail

USA Today

WSJ-U.S. Info Request

Ethical Decision Making and H&R Block

Dancer Making Points-Edgar Degas

The concept of ethical decision making applies to all fields from sports management to higher education to general business.  Even day-to-day decisions require an element of ethical decision making.  When driving home, one must decide whether to drive the speed limit or exceed it, endangering those on the road.  In the world of fine art, decisions are made all the time.  Here is a story about a decision that was made regarding Degas' Ballerina painting, "a $10 million dollar painting by Degas" (Dedman, 2010).

Safe to say that everyone in America has heard of  H & R Block, the tax company.  This pretty ballerina ended up on Mr. Henry Bloch's wall, owner of the H & R Block (Dedman, 2010).  Bloch had purchased this painting in 2005.  Although he purchased it, the Degas painting was actually stolen property. 

Christopher A. Marinello, executive director and general counsel for the Art Loss Register in London, said in an interview that buyers should do their own checks on the authenticity and good title of art."It costs less than $100 to check the ownership of a $5 million painting. People will buy a used car and they'll take it around the corner and put it up on a lift and check it out, and they'll get a Carfax report. They'll spend millions on art, and do nothing. (Dedham, 2010)

Through a bit of smoke and mirrors (an art museum in Kansas City) and an elderly former owner of the art who despised depositions (Dedham, 2010), Mr. H. Bolch ended up with Degas' painting on his wall.

Where did the decision go awry?  Read more NBC's Article 

Author: Dr. Andree Swanson

Dedman, B. (2010). The $10 million Degas ballerina, heiress Huguette Clark and the tax man. NBC News. Retrieved from http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/15/10693680-the-10-million-degas-ballerina-heiress-huguette-clark-and-the-tax-man?lite