It obviously didn't take much competency to steal "Madonna" and "The Scream" from Oslo's Munch Museum on Sunday. Two guys wearing hoods brandished guns to subdue "security" and took off with the paintings. Experts seem to think there isn't much of a market for these paintings, and that the thiefs may end up holding the masterpieces hostage.
What with the Olympics, the Norwegian press are flush with news stories of no particular consequence - their favorite kind! - and there is talk of substantially beefing up security at Norwegian museums.
I have a better idea: stop showing original works. Not only does it take away the incentive to steal, it also reduces the cost of protecting these pieces against the inevitable erosion from being exposed to, well, air and light.
Instead of investing in security, invest in technologies to create really good reproductions. And by good reproductions, I mean the type that would be indistinguishable from the real thing for art appreciation purposes. This would involve reproducing not just the colors, but also the textures, relief, and other aspects of the originals. It may cost $10,000 - $20,000 for each piece, but it'd easily be worth it.
This will provide more competition among museums, since there is no reason why Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer can't be shown in several places at once. The basis for competition will likely be the extent to which the museum facilitates the art appreciation experience, rather than simply showing the pieces.
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