Will It Stay Or Will It Van Gogh?

The Van Gogh at the DIA case continues.

In Federal District Court in Detroit, the Judge dismissed the case by the Brazilian collector against the DIA. The judge ruled against his claim that the DIA need to surrender the artwork by Van Gogh, “The Novel Reader” on the basis that it had been stolen from the collector under still unclear circumstances.

The Court properly ruled that the Immunity from Seizure Act prevented the work from being seized from the museum.

Interestingly, the Brazilian Collector had apparently failed to even report the $3.5-$5 million dollar painting had been stolen.  The story of the dismissal of the case doesn't reveal if there is even any record that he had purchased it in the first place. The collector has filed an appeal.

So, it would seem that now the painting could indeed Gogh on its way now that the exhibit is coming to a close.

But wait, there's more.

The 6th Court of Appeals has just released an order that The Novel Reader is to remain at the DIA pending the appeal: The Detroit Free Press: Appeals court to DIA: Hold onto disputed Van Gogh painting, despite end of exhibit

While great art moves you, this piece of great art isn't moving for now.

A Van Gogh That's Likely Not Going Anywhere

Remember the Van Gogh exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts?

There's now a lawsuit as to the ownership of one of the paintings now on display there.

The Detroit News: Judge blocks DIA from concealing Van Gogh in international fight

A federal judge Wednesday blocked Detroit Institute of Arts officials from moving or hiding a painting by Vincent van Gogh, less than 24 hours after a company that claims ownership sued the museum, saying the artwork had been missing for nearly six years until it was discovered on display as part of the museum's "Van Gogh in America" exhibition.

It's a rather curious case as after paying $3.6 million for the painting in 2017 the claimed owner and Plaintiff in the lawsuit then for some reason

transferred possession, but not title, to an unidentified third party, the lawsuit alleges. No additional details are provided in the six-page lawsuit, filed in federal court in Detroit.

A little more detail as to who he transferred it to and why would probably be interesting and likely more will come out in the case as it moves along.

In any case this particular Van Gogh is likely not going anywhere soon.

So I Van Went To Van Gogh

The Detroit Institute of Arts is hosting a special "Van Gogh In America" exhibit, bringing together multiple works of Van Gogh for public display at the DIA.

Security was rather tight and they're not allowing bags in. 

I had planned to see the exhibit and then do some work in their courtyard after seeing the exhibit, but due to vile progs defacing art in the name of Global Warming Climate Change, you can't bring bags in anymore including laptop bags. So, we decided to just see the exhibit and then head back to do work afterward.

This is not the immersive traveling Van Gogh exhibit, but rather the actual paintings on a special exhibit. There are 74 Van Gogh paintings and sketches on display in the exhibit brought in from numerous institutions to be put on for this exhibition.

Including the very one first purchased by the DIA in 1922, which was the first purchase of a Van Gogh by an American Art Museum.

This one:

One of his rather famous self-portraits.  

He did a lot of self-portraits, being unable to afford models much of the time. Quite neat to see it in person along with the other art works. Apparently, the DIA caught quite a bit of flack back then for buying it as Van Gogh's art wasn't considered quite artsy enough at the time.

Lots of his works have olive trees:

 

This is because they were outside the windows of the asylum he checked himself into for mental issues.

He had a mental condition that we would likely diagnose as Bi-Polar today.

In his final days, he produced 75 paintings in 70 days.  Can you say manic episode?

Van Gogh died at a young age from suicide in 1890 at the age of 37. A lot of talent that sadly burnt out at so young an age.

His art took some time after his death to catch on in America. It finally started to become popular here in 1935 due to a the Museum of Modern Art's exhibition of his work which caught peoples attention and led to its popularity.

Quite a nice exhibit and a nice morning break from the office and the usual day-to-day. 

If you're near the Detroit area, I'd recommend taking the time to go see it.  There are tickets required with set viewing times, as they want to limit the number of people who are in the exhibit to allow people to be able to enjoy it and be able to easily view the art without it being crowded.