Another attempt to smuggle art: 5 paintings seized at Batrovci, two signed by Van Gogh and Bonnard

The car where the paintings were found / Photo: Customs

Several art paintings, including two signed with the names of famous painters Vincent van Gogh and Pierre Bonnard, almost got smuggled through our country from Slovenia in yet another attempt to smuggle works of art.

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Customs officers, in cooperation with the police, prevented this criminal act on September 2, 2021, at the exit of the Batrovci border crossing with Croatia. Whether these are copies or originals will be the subject of further investigation, but what's important is that thanks to the work of the border services, those paintings are now retained until their authenticity and origin have been determined.

The case unfolded when a Renault Twingo with Slovenian license plates, driven by a 70-year-old Slovenian citizen, arrived for regular exit checks. The traveler claimed that he had nothing to declare and that he only carried golf clubs, because he was in Serbia for a golf tournament that he competed in. However, a detailed inspection of the vehicle uncovered that there was a bag with five undeclared art paintings under the passenger seat.

There was no information about the authors of three of the paintings (an oil on canvas with a windmill, a watercolor on paper with a female character and a graphite pencil work depicting a musical instrument).

However, two paintings had the signatures of well-known authors: one was made in pastel colors with a forest motif and had Van Gogh's signature, whole the other was a watercolor with a male figure and the Bonnard signature.

The undeclared paintings and the passenger in whose car they were discovered have been handed over to the police.

(Telegraf.rs)