I think so.
I think it’s wrong for great masterpieces to be hoarded.
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From “The Search for van Gogh’s Lost Masterpiece” (NYT):
Do collecting families have any responsibility to share iconic works of art with the broader public?
The question has grown more relevant as it becomes clearer that most museums can no longer outbid billionaire collectors for the greatest works of art. Few paintings make that point plainer than Dr. Gachet’s portrait, a piece long on public display that has now vanished into someone’s private home or a climate-controlled warehouse.
For many in the art world, such a work is not just a creative expression, but part of a trade that survives because of the interest and deep pockets of collectors who may, or may not, choose to share their work.
“People are allowed to own things privately,” said Michael Findlay, who was involved as a specialist for Christie’s in the 1990 auction sale of the Gachet. “Does it belong to everybody? No, it does not.”
But the loss is palpable to people like Cynthia Saltzman, the author of the 1998 book “Portrait of Dr. Gachet.”
She regularly viewed the painting at the Met. She had expected, even after it was sold privately, that the picture would surface here and there, at an exhibition or an auction.
I read the whole article, it's a fascinating story, a sort of art world whodunit. As for whether famous paintings should be on public display, I'm not sure what I think about that. Maybe they should be on public display for a month or two a year at least, like the Dr Gachet portrait used to be. People shouldn't be allowed to hoard these wonderful paintings indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick
DeleteMaybe half the year?
How many times can you really "see" a painting before it becomes part of the furniture?
I don't think billionaires should be allowed to hoard any form of the world's wealth, whether that be money, art, access to health care, good diet and living conditions, leisure and creativity, freedom from oppression, etc.
ReplyDeleteGood topic. Perhaps billionaires shouldn't exist, or not to the extent that they do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Debra. Art should never be hoarded from the public.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it should be shared.
ReplyDeleteThe debate over whether private collectors have a responsibility to share iconic works of art with the broader public is a compelling and multifaceted issue. On one hand, private collectors have the legal right to own and control their acquisitions as they see fit. Their investments fuel the art market and can lead to the preservation and appreciation of artworks that might otherwise be neglected.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for many, the significance of iconic artworks transcends private ownership. These masterpieces are part of a shared cultural heritage that holds historical, educational, and emotional value for the public.
My opinion, they should be exhibited every so often so the public can see them. However, if something happens to them on such occasions their insurance has to pay I presume or the galleries, then on the other hand people buy these beautiful paintings so it become theirs. I expect we all could talk and debate forever about this.
ReplyDelete