The definitive book on the theft of Hitler’s favorite painting from the Neue Nationalgalerie and its importance to the history of art theft as well as the history of art. On 12 December 1976, German conceptual artist Ulay stole Hitler’s favorite painting from the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin. It was art theft as conceptual artwork—he hung the painting on the wall of a working-class immigrant family then phoned the museum to let them know where they could retrieve it. This is among the most famous performance artworks in history, and Ulay’s most iconic artistic action. This unique and groundbreaking book tells the complete story of this art theft as artwork from three perspectives and with three authors. While Ulay passed away in 2020, he recorded his own first-person account of the action in conversation with art historian Noah Charney. This direct account from Ulay will provide one part of the book. The action was conceived and undertaken along with Ulay’s partner at the time, Marina Abramovic, who is among the most famous living artists in the world—her account of the action will follow Ulay’s in this book. Finally, Noah Charney will write about the action and placing it within the context of art history as well as the story of art theft. The result is the definitive book on this fascinating incident’s importance to both the history of art theft and the history of art.

Author Biography

Marina Abramovic, performance artist and founder of the Marina Abramovic Institute, has presented her work at major institutions around the world and at many international exhibitions; she performed with Ulay from 1975-88.

Working in photography, video, and environmental activism, Ulay revolutionized performance and conceptual art, still influencing artists today. His collaborations with Abramovic challenged conventions of art, gender, and relationships.

Noah Charney, founder of the Association for Research into Crimes against Art, has authored more than a dozen books and written for dozens of major publications. He has taught art history for Yale University, Brown University, American University of Rome, and University of Ljubljana.

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