Photo Gallery The Works Stolen in Rotterdam
Seven paintings were stolen out of the Kunsthal art museum in Rotterdam on Monday night. Police have not yet put a value on the loss, but with works from Picasso, Monet, Matisse and Gauguin among those missing, some say the total value of the stolen paintings could be as much as 100 million euros.
The museum has remained closed on Tuesday as police look for clues and examine surveillance video footage.
Police believe that the heist was well planned. It is one of the most spectacular art thefts in Europe in recent years.
The stolen art includes works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and Gauguin. Police don't know how the thieves got into the building.
Among those stolen was this work by Lucian Freud, called "Woman with Eyes Closed" (2002).
Meyer de Haan's "Autoporträt" (1889 to 1891) has also gone missing. The exhibition had just opened last week.
Henri Matisse: "La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune" (1919). This work was also stolen. Experts say that the thieves will likely not be able to sell the works.
Pablo Picasso: "Tête d'Arlequin" (1971). Another of the stolen works. "This is the worst thing that can ever happen to a museum director," Kunsthal director Emily Ansenk told Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad on Tuesday.
Paul Gauguin: "Femme devant une fenêtre ouverte, dite la Fiancée" (1888). This work was also stolen. Experts have suggested that the thieves may be planning on demanding ransom money for the stolen items.
Two paintings by Claude Monet were stolen in the heist, including "Waterloo Bridge, London" (1901), and ...
... "Charing Cross Bridge, London" (1901).
The Kunsthal was designed by Rem Koolhaas and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its opening this year.
Police have thus far released very few details about the case. They are reportedly looking in to why the Kunsthal's state-of-the-art security system seems to have failed.
