The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting (French: L'Hypothèse du tableau volé) is a 1978 French experimental mystery film directed by Chilean filmmaker Raúl Ruiz[1][2] and shot by cinematographer Sacha Vierny. The film was inspired by the themes of French writer Pierre Klossowski (1905 - 2001) and makes references to many of Klossowski's works including The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, The Baphomet and “La Judith de Frédérique Tonnerre.”[3] Ruiz was originally commissioned by a French TV network to make an arts documentary on Klossowski, but what emerged is this film, a parody of the art documentary.[4] The film was featured in film festivals after its release such as the London Film Festival in 1979.[5] Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting has been noted as one of Ruiz's masterpieces that challenges the boundaries of cinema and film theory.[6]