Chapter 38
Summary
- Breitwieser was released from prison in 2015, at 44 years of age. Substantially all of his assets had been seized, leaving him with very little money.
- His mother funded the rent on an apartment for him and sometimes provided groceries. He visited his grandparents' farmhouse, where she lived, frequently. His only income was government assistance, and he paid a part of it as a fine due to his original trials.
- He stopped visiting museums, noting that they brought back too many memories and unwanted feelings. His only connection to the art world at this point was through auction catalogs, through which he hoped to find his lost pieces.
- Despite the statute of limitations expiring, Breitwieser's mother would not reveal the final location of the 80 pieces of artwork that were still missing. Breitwieser believed that his former love interest, Anne-Catherine, might know their location, but chose not to contact her, deciding that some things should remain a mystery.
- Breitwieser returned to the life of art theft in 2016 out of financial necessity, stealing from several museums in France and Germany, and selling the stolen pieces online under various aliases. He was caught and arrested in 2019, and remained under home confinement during the Covid pandemic.
- Despite his legal troubles, Breitwieser had a profound moment in 2019 when he saw a brochure for the Rubens House museum and realized that a piece he had stolen, Adam and Eve, had been recovered and was on display. He discreetly visited the museum and was moved at seeing the artwork again, admitting that the high point of his life may have been when he originally stole the piece.
- Breitwieser lamented the losses of his past, mourning not his time spent stealing, but the time since he had stopped. His current situation was a stark contrast to the grandeur he felt during his time as an art thief, leaving him feeling like nothing in comparison. He ended his visit to the museum by stealing a four-dollar museum booklet for the lack of money.