Why would you steal a Picasso painting?  

Yeah.. I mean even if they can sell it underground.. the chances of being caught have to be HUGE and then, if they can't sell it right away... how long before they could sell it ... hundreds of years! LOL Talk about leaving a windfall for your next generations?

I understand that but I still am clueless as to HOW or WHY anyone else would buy it. Okay, you get it on the black market for half the value. So what? What are you going to do with it? If you're that rich, unless you put it in a locked room to adore by yourself, it's probably going to be seen by other rich people who will KNOW it's a Picasso. I guess you could say it's a "fake" but if you're rich enough to buy it on the black market people are going to know it's probably not a fake and figure that one out since they know what was stolen.

I honestly have always wondered why you would EVER steal things that are sooooo obvious as to be stolen.

If you steal a car, you can cut it up and reuse or whatever. But a Picasso that the world knows.... so what can u even do with it?

It's the status in owning it, for those who can afford it. It's bought underground for the same reasons that people buy ferrari's when a honda will get them where they need to go. Status symbols and the self enjoyment of owning something that rare or expensive. And of course they'd show it, it would be on display as the rich keep their works on display now. How many are going to walk into their living rooms and demand certification to prove authenticity?

LOL.. you haven't met some of the rich folk I've dealt with! I'm telling you... the first thing they'd do is get out their magnifying glass and start investigating for the authenticity!!!!!

I guess if you're low enough to buy on the black market and egotistical enough to want a painting because it's so valuable and not really because of the truth of the matter of art, then you probably don't really have friends that are real "church goers" and "saints" eh? Guess you do have a point there!

LOL... I'd get excited to be able to afford the fake version!

I'm pretty sure they knew because it's known to be Picasso's grand daughter's house I guess. I think that's what they said. But the weird part is.. why would you spend that kind of money on something to not even be able to enjoy? If you are a huge art fan... you'd want to see it and admire it and share it with your friends. LOL Seems silly to me. Then again I don't have millions to toss away either... so perhaps I just don't understand because of that?

Maybe they do already have a buyer for the paintings, or know of people who would buy it an keep in their own private vault and admire it all to themselves. There are collectors of all kinds of things who buy rare items but never take them out of the wrapper or container, because it would decrease their value. I don't understand how you can 'enjoy' something if it's covered in its container the whole time, but I guess that's why I'm not a die hard collector of anything.

OMG... now we're talking about my gram! LOL She used to have a CLOSET FULL of new dresses and things that she was "saving" because they were "too nice to use". LOL

I would get so upset every time I went to see her because things I'd get her for gifts would hang in the closet forever and yup, when she died the ol witch that moved right in with my gramps tossed it all away anyways!

I've always wondered why you buy or have things NOT to use. Seems senseless to me too!

But wouldn't people who already have collections be under immediate suspicion?

Anyway, I understand this "need" for things.

I think what I can't fathom though is that it's going "underground" for sale.. okay.. understand that.. but is there really NOBODY that gets told of this who goes to the authorities and lets them in on it?

I guess I'm too freaking honest to comprehend? LOL I dunno.

But I do understand the compulsion thing. So that would have some bearing on it all.

LOL... exactly.
I'm not quite getting it either. Guess that's why I didn't steal it and you weren't my assistant?

I have to admit Maddy.. it's not really a "hob knob" thing as much as a frame of mind I think. I can honestly say.. I'm FAR FAR FAR from rich.. lol... but I LOVE and adore art.. even some of the most strange and odd art around and I tend to be able to see artistic value in most anything.

I personally love Picasso and I think I have a way of perhaps warping my own mind into seeing what he was hoping we'd see or maybe I just don't care if I see what others see or what the artist WANTS me to see and enjoy seeing it all on my own viewpoint? LOL

But anyways... I see what you mean. I understand that there are those out there who are fanatical for sure and this is a real high to get. I would love to be able to just see it and knowing what they symbolized it really saddened me that his family lost it.

Were you talking to my cousin Vinnie's wife? LOL
Just kidding.

I guess there is always someone out there willing to buy it no matter what. I just can't imagine it myself. I can't imagine that they don't have even ONE friend with some morals that would go "Hey... you know Guido has the real picasso?" and turn them in!!!! I mean, not EVERYONE they mingle with can be "bad" can they?

I just can't grasp it all I guess!!!!! I mean I understand that they obviuosly are out there because this is not the first nor the last expensive item to be hoisted for sure!

I'm anxious myself to see if they get caught quickly. If you're ballsy enough to do it, how tight are you gonna sit with this thing? It's obviously calling out to you for the money!