Boltanski and Esquerre Analyze Art as Enrichment Economy

The February 2017 issue of Artpress (n°441, pp. 32-40) features an article titled 'L’art, bassin d’enrichissement' that reviews the book 'Enrichissement, une critique de la marchandise' published by Gallimard / NRF. Authors Luc Boltanski and Arnaud Esquerre examine a previously overlooked sector of Western economies: the art market. They reveal how art functions as a rich 'deposit' for capital, analyzing the mechanisms of enrichment that turn cultural goods into economic assets. The book is described as a landmark publication, offering the first systematic critique of the commodity in this context.