In 1911, Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, and yet, people continued to flock to the empty gap left behind. They came to witness evidence of the theft, and to bear witness to the impact of art theft on culture. The piece was eventually recovered, and in Art Heist, Susie Hodge, who has written numerous books on art, carefully details instances where works disappeared or were stolen and recovered, and the repercussions of their absence.
Split into two sections--"Lost" and "Found"--the book is filled with brief but engaging accounts of thefts and attempts at restoration, each illustrated with investigation documents and photos on record of the lost art. Hodge discusses heists like the mass plundering of European art engaged in by the Nazis during their rise to power and those conducted in the last few decades. Hodge provides context for the motivation behind some of the thefts, such as obscuring cultural heritage or solidifying Mafia power. Art Heist is a beautiful coffee-table book that is sure to spark plenty of conversations. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer