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The new documentary, “The Art of the Steal,” is a testament to the corruption of today’s judicial system. It is an eye opening account of the criminal activities that was brought upon the wishes of a dead man and proves that those with power are able to do what they want.

In 1922, Dr. Albert C. Barnes opened the doors of the Barnes Foundation right outside of Philadelphia in a small township called Lower Marion. The Foundation housed his private art collection that features numerous paintings by Matisse, Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso and Cézanne. The amazing thing about this collection is that Barnes obtained it before these artists were considered to be the masters that they are regarded as today. During one exhibit, the pieces were even described as “primitive;” but Dr. Barnes knew better.

He developed an anti-aristocratic attitude toward the art snobs of the world, especially those that called Philadelphia home. He refused to share his possessions with the museum culture, and once his paintings began to be regarded as unparalleled examples of modern art, he shut his doors, refusing to let the curators near his masterpieces.

Dr. Barnes was merely loathed while he was alive. The real drama started once the good doctor passed away and the many greedy hands began to dismantle what he built. Director Don Argott makes a compelling movie that reveals one unbelievable fact right after another. The film is an obviously biased work, almost everybody talking at you is a true Barnes believer, but it does let the “accused” plead their case in there own words and this was when I started taking offense of the actions of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and several other movers and politicians from the area.

The travesty lies in this fact. When Barnes died, his will stated that the collection shall not be sold, loaned or moved. It is that simple. He set the Foundation up to act as a school and for the art to appreciated by those who truly understand his philosophies. Slowly, these wishes were torn apart, and the city of Philadelphia was eventually able to take control of the collection.

One of Barnes’ supporters in the film describes the collection as “a handmade thing in a machine world,” which is a beautiful way to sum up what Barnes was able to do. The man was ahead of his time, and he was able to amass something that is valued at tens of billions of dollars. The problem is that kind of value can yield massive amounts of power. “The Art of the Steal” is disheartening, but important. Knowledge that this sort of injustice can happen is as invaluable as the Barnes collection.

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