In 1999, 24,598 works of art and antiques were stolen in Italy alone. Some of these works were recovered, while others have been distributed through channels they otherwise would not have traveled. Art theft is one of the largest international crimes in the world today but it is little discussed due to fears of revealing vulnerabilities and errors. The Chiaroscuro Market takes a deep look at art theft, its impact on the art world, and how the two feed off each other in a symbiotic relationship.

Forvillelser by Hjalmar Soderberg 1895 Original Swedish edition published by Albert Bonnier Publishing. English language translation (c) 2012 by Kempton Mooney. Delusions is the story of Thomas Weber, a recent graduate who does not know what to do with his life. Instead of studying, he runs around Stockholm, watching people stroll and visiting cafes. He falls in love with girls and falls into debt. But when the loans come due and he has no way to pay, his life of leisure catches up to hi

Conceptual art as a popular phenomenon, known as conceptualism, had a profound impact upon the art world as a whole because it could manifest itself in any material or form. This allowed conceptual artists to approach themes that artists working in traditional materials could not. The term conceptual art was defined by Sol LeWitt, a pioneer of the movement, to describe diverse forms of written and visual documentation, including textual data, diagrams, drawings, maps, and photographic records. Stressing the use of language and thought process, the movement was the culmination of written information being enacted as art, something begun early in the century. In minimizing the relevance of the permanent visual object, conceptual art also demonstrated a disappointment with the museum and gallery system. It brought forth issues such as art as a commodity, what art could be, and art's role in society. It set out to shock the art community, to change the language of art, and to introduce a new way of perceiving and discussing art. Though it produced few known master works, conceptualism is credited with breaking from conventional art-making and did a great deal to open up the art world.