The Complex Interplay Between Criminal Law And The Art Market

This contribution explores the intricate interaction between criminal law and the art market, focusing in particular on anti-money-laundering regulation. By examining how AML obligations are increasingly extended to a sector marked by structural opacity, aesthetic subjectivity, and idiosyncratic market practices, the paper argues that this regulatory expansion offers a valuable vantage point from which to reassess contemporary criminal policy on money laundering. The analysis suggests that confronting the unique features of the art market may help illuminate the limits—and possible recalibration—of an increasingly severe legislative approach.