Ladder in the Snow

An art museum in central Oslo, a Saturday in February 1994, 7:15 a.m. The Winter Games open this afternoon, and the city is full of flags and tourists.

The Red Bridge, the most famous canvas by the painter Halvard Strøm, has vanished from Room 10, where it had hung for three days beside a window onto the street. On the floor lie the empty frame, shards of glass and an exhibition card: "Thanks for the poor security".

Outside, an aluminium ladder is still propped against the facade, already covered in snow. The window alarm sounded, but nobody got there in time.

Three people know this room from the inside. One of them knew exactly which window to open.

An exhibition room with freshly painted walls, an empty gilt frame on the floor and snow blowing in.