Art and Anarchy: The Plundering of France's Cultural Heritage The brazen heist at a French museum on Tuesday, where thieves made off with two valuable Renoir paintings while abandoning others in their haste, has once again highlighted the vulnerability of France's cultural treasures.
This incident is striking not just for its audacity or the value of the artwork stolen, but also for the alarming pattern that emerges when examining recent high profile burglaries targeting French museums and institutions.
The Louvre, one of the world's most iconic cultural landmarks, suffered a daylight heist last year when thieves made off with crown jewels valued at around $100 million.