OSLO, Norway (Reuters) — A Norwegian who stole two Edvard Munch paintings has finally got his hands on another work by the Norwegian master — at auction.
Paal Enger, who triggered international headlines when he used a ladder to climb into Norway's National Gallery and grab "The Scream" in 1994, bought an unsigned Munch lithograph at an auction in Oslo for $3,231 Tuesday.
"A fabulous day. To win the bid for a genuine Munch was just wonderful," Enger said. In 1996, Enger was given a six-year sentence for stealing "The Scream" but was released around a year and a half ago.
As well as "The Scream," Munch's 1893 symbolist masterpiece, Enger stole "Vampire," showing a long-haired woman vampire, in 1988. Both paintings were later recovered.
By coincidence, Enger bumped into the former head of security at the National Gallery, Roy Jamessen.
"Congratulations! It's great that you've actually bought a Munch painting — much better than stealing one," Jamessen told Enger.