alejandro jodorowsky taschen art sin fin monograph

Taschen has released a monumental two-volume monograph titled "Art Sin Fin" (2026) dedicated to the 96-year-old Chilean filmmaker and polymath Alejandro Jodorowsky. The book, priced at $1,500 and packaged in a Plexiglass box, spans over 2,000 pages and includes film stills, collages, drawings, photographs, comic strips, and performance images curated by Jodorowsky himself in collaboration with Donatien Grau, head of contemporary programs at the Louvre Museum. It covers his entire career, from his surrealist films "El Topo" (1970) and "The Holy Mountain" (1973) to his failed "Dune" adaptation, his comic series like "The Incal" and "The Metabarons," his psychomagic therapy practice, and recent collaborations with his wife Pascale Montandon.

A truckload of F1 KitKats, a painting of fish: what is it that makes heists so delicious? | Imogen West-Knights

The article explores the curious public fascination with high-profile heists, using two recent examples as a springboard: the theft of 12 tons of Formula 1-themed KitKats from a truck in Italy and the robbery of paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse from a museum in northern Italy. The author notes that such stories reliably go viral, not due to outrage but because people find them thrilling and even amusing, especially when the victims are large corporations or when the crime feels audacious and tangible.

art bites mona lisa louvre heist

On October 19, 2025, thieves disguised as construction workers stole $102 million in French crown jewels from the Louvre, but the article contrasts this with the far more infamous 1911 heist of Leonardo da Vinci's *Mona Lisa*. The 1911 theft was carried out by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman and museum employee who hid in a supply closet, removed the painting's glass casing (which he had installed), and fled with two accomplices via subway. The theft went unnoticed for 28 hours, and the French press sensationalized the story, even accusing figures like J.P. Morgan and Pablo Picasso.

51% of Men Say Mona Lisa "Should Smile More"

A new visitor experience survey at the Louvre Museum has revealed that 51% of male respondents believe Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa "should smile more." The finding highlights a specific demographic's critique of the artwork's famously enigmatic expression.

illuminated medieval manuscripts to know

This article explores the history and significance of illuminated manuscripts, correcting the common misconception that they were exclusively produced by medieval European monks. It highlights five standout examples, including the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, made for Jean I, Duke of Berry around 1411 by the Limbourg brothers, and the Book of Kells, created around 800 C.E. by monks of Iona Abbey. The article notes that illuminated manuscripts, defined by the decorative use of gold or silver, date back to the 4th century B.C.E. and span cultures from the Middle East to Africa and Mesoamerica, serving primarily as status symbols rather than reading material.

$102 Million Louvre Heist Is Getting the Film Treatment

A feature film is in development about the October 2025 Louvre heist, in which two thieves disguised themselves, smashed into the museum, and stole eight historic jewels worth an estimated €88 million ($102 million) in under eight minutes. Paris-based production company Iconoclast has acquired the rights to the book "A Grab at the Louvre" by journalists Jean-Michel Décugis, Jérémie Pham-Le, and Nicolas Torrent, and French director Romain Gavras is attached to helm the project, which could hit theaters in 2028. A separate documentary series by an anonymous British producer is also in the works.

27 Best Museums in the World for Art, History, and Cultural Wonders

This article from Travel + Leisure lists 27 of the best museums in the world, covering art, history, science, and culture. Featured institutions include the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Vatican Museums, the National Museum of China in Beijing, the National Gallery and Tate Modern in London, the Natural History Museum in London, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and Miraikan in Tokyo. The piece highlights iconic artworks such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Sistine Chapel ceiling, as well as notable architectural features like I.M. Pei's glass pyramid at the Louvre.

Film and Documentary Planned About Louvre Art Heist

Film und Doku zum Kunstraub im Louvre geplant

A heist at the Louvre in October 2025, in which four masked thieves stole crown jewels worth an estimated €88 million, is being turned into a film and documentary series. The projects are based on the investigative book "Main basse sur le Louvre" by journalists Jean-Michel Décugis, Jérémie Pham-Lê, and Nicolas Torrent. The feature film will be directed by Romain Gavras, with production by Iconoclast, while a documentary series will be produced by Misfits of the Mediawan Group. The book was published on Wednesday by Flammarion, though no title, release date, or cast for the film has been announced yet.