September 07

In the aftermath of the infamous theft of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa in August 1911, suspicion fell on a circle of avant-garde artists and writers. On September 7, 1911, French poet Guillaume Apollinaire was taken into custody by Parisian authorities. Apollinaire, along with other modernist figures, had acquired insights into the Paris art scene and collectors, making him a suspect. Despite intense interrogation and sensational newspaper headlines, no concrete evidence linked him to the crime. The investigation revealed that Apollinaire had provided a tip-off that ultimately aided in the recovery of the painting the following year. His arrest highlighted tensions between the traditional art establishment and the burgeoning avant-garde movement. Although eventually cleared of all charges, Apollinaire's brush with the law underscored his controversial role in early twentieth-century art circles. The incident remains a fascinating footnote in the history of literature and art crime.