In my thesis I explore the characteristics of contemporary documentaries and the trends in their form and content. I focus on approaches to topics related to fine arts, which I present through the analysis of a Norwegian situational documentary, The Painter and the Thief (2020) by Benjamin Ree. This is a unique, experimental film where the aspirations, devices and solutions specific to contemporary documentaries can be pointed out. In general, contemporary documentaries are much more emotional and focus more on individual stories than before, which is also essential when dealing with the subjects of fine arts. As various, existing works of art, persons and phenomena are transferred to another medium, new layers are added to them. Following this thought, I analyse The Painter and the Thief to explore the connections between the two media, fine arts and contemporary documentaries.