Significant portions of a sculpture by renowned artist Anselm Kiefer, estimated to be worth approximately $1 million, were recently stolen from his storage facility in Croissy-Beaubourg, France, according to local prosecutors.
The stolen items are believed to be large lead books, a notable element in Kiefer's work. The exact piece targeted remains uncertain, but Kiefer's creations, such as "The High Priestess/Zweistromland" (1985/86), often incorporate these weighty lead books to delve into themes of post-World War II German history. This particular work, for instance, references records maintained by the Nazis.
A prosecutor from Meaux reported that surveillance footage captured four individuals breaking into the facility's parking area, cutting through a steel fence protecting the artwork, and absconding with the lead books that were part of the sculpture.
This incident is not the first theft at Kiefer's expansive warehouse. A similar event occurred in 2016 when a 13-ton assembly of book sculptures and a significant quantity of raw marble, amounting to over €2 million in losses, were stolen. In 2019, another of Kiefer's sculptures was damaged during an attempted theft of its lead components.
In both previous instances, French authorities suggested that the thieves were more interested in the raw materials than the artistic value of the pieces. The prosecutors in Meaux echoed this sentiment regarding the latest theft.
This latest crime coincides with the release of Wim Wenders's new documentary "Anselm," premiering in US theaters this Friday. The 3D film explores Kiefer's art and career, including scenes from the very warehouse that was recently burglarized.
Jean Dubreil