A painting worth 50 million euros was accidentally damaged in the Netherlands

A tragic incident occurred at the famous Boymans van Beningen Museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. According to the BBC, a young boy accidentally damaged a very valuable painting by the famous American artist Mark Rothko, “Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8,” in the museum’s special exhibition hall, the Depot.

It is reported that the works selected from the collection were on display in the museum’s storage room, and the incident occurred right there. At the time of the incident, museum employees were not watching the work, as a result of which several small scratches appeared on the lower part of the painting in the area not covered with varnish.

Museum officials say the damage is superficial, but a team of experts has begun an analysis to find the best solution to restore the painting. Dutch and foreign restorers are currently working together to restore the painting to its original condition. After the restoration process, the painting will be presented to the public again.

Restoration experts note that modern works of art, including those by Mark Rothko, are very sensitive to even the slightest damage because they are not protected by a layer of varnish. The restoration process for this type of work is made much more difficult by the composition of the special paints and glues used by the artist.

It should be recalled that earlier in September 2024, activists who damaged Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting "Sunflowers" by throwing soup were imprisoned. One of the defendants, who defended himself during the trial, noted that this punishment was not only directed at the activists, but also "against the foundations of democracy."

It is not yet known what legal consequences this accidental incident at the Boymans van Beningen Museum will have. However, such incidents may prompt major museums around the world to further tighten security measures for works of art. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!