Child damages $56M Rothko painting at Netherlands museum

[question everything]

April 28 (UPI) -- Dutch curators are considering "next steps" after a child damaged a $56 million painting by American artist Mark Rothko while visiting a museum in Rotterdam.

"The work by Rothko -- Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 -- has suffered damage: a number of visible scratches in the unvarnished paint layer," a spokesperson at the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen confirmed. "It happened because a child, in an unsupervised moment, touched the lower part of the work."

The painting from 1960 was being displayed at the museum's Depot as the main building undergoes renovations, which are expected to be completed in 2030.

(snip)

Restoration experts are currently working to determine the best course of action to repair the Rothko painting before it can be displayed again.

"We expect that the work will be able to be shown again in the future," the museum spokesperson told BBC. "Conservation expertise has been sought in the Netherlands and abroad. We are currently researching the next steps for the treatment of the painting."

Modern, unvarnished paintings are "particularly susceptible to damage," according to Sophie McAloone, conservation manager at the Fine Art Restoration Company.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/child-damages-56m-rothko-painting-232041257.html

[marble falls]

1. He was trying to put a mustache on it.

[Mosby]

2. I wouldnt pay $500 for that.

Stupid.

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Do you remember commercials from the 80s, I think

Advertising ‘hotel-motel art shows’? Some of the most gawdawful ‘art’ - and all for retail prices too.

[underpants]

5. I remember that. My mom bought me the ugliest chair at a motel closing.

To me, art is something I can’t do. I could do that Rothko. As was explained to me by art students I worked with “but they thought of it”. Okay.

[EYESORE 9001]

27. I do good to draw stick figures

There’s artistic talent in my family, but I didn’t inherit any. Guess when I was in queue to be reborn, I got in the wrong line and got fartistic ability instead.

[BoRaGard]

8. How about if I added a banana?

[Mosby]

16. Only it its duct taped to the middle of the painting.

That might raise the value to $1000.

[maxsolomon]

22. Have you been in front of an actual Rothko?

They make you feel like they're vibrating from within. Doesn't really come across in a photo, but they're some of the most spiritual AbEx paintings I've ever seen.

[Mosby]

26. Actually i might have.

When I was in San Francisco a long time ago I went to the MOMA there. I was most impressed by the Klee exhibit. I love his work.

[genxlib]

4. In fairness

It looks like some of his own work because it looks like a child painted it.

I will never understand the "value" of some modern art. I guess I am just a philistine.

[Butterflylady]

6. The child made an improvement in my view.......

All they have to do is paint another one. How hard is it to copy?

[JBTaurus83]

7. How is this worth 56 million?

I love going to the art museums here in Philly, but, I will never understand this crap.

[Vinca]

12. Me either. I suspect the kid who damaged it could paint a new one for them.

[maxsolomon]

24. He couldn't. He won't.

Last edited Tue Apr 29, 2025, 06:34 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't understand why the compunction to reject post-WW2 Abstract Expressionism.

It's the art of our Grandparents. Rothko was born 2 years before my Grandfather, in 1903. This painting is 65 years old.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. I love Rothkos and I love it when life happens to art; this story is catnip for me.

[canetoad]

17. Me too

We have one painting in the State gallery - Untitled (Red) and I become almost hypnotised by it. This thread is full of phillistines

[yardwork]

18. With you on this. I suspect Rothko would love this.

[FirstLight]

10. somebody's parent is in trouble!

Was it an American family...? lol


edit to add...

I see they aren't doxxing the parents/kid

It looks like a kid's painting, so maybe the kid was attracted to it ...

Seriously, some "art" is really stupid...

[mopinko]

11. i've often wondered

if rothko laughed all the way to the bank. i DO appreciate his work, mostly. but i have no idea how some artists paint the same thing over, and over, and over.

[maxsolomon]

25. He didn't laugh all the way to the bank.

He killed himself.

[mopinko]

13. sounds like a gross exaggeration.

i’ve seen some incredibly damaged paintings restored. it’s not rocket science.
they dont even have to deal w 18th century pigments, etc. u can probably still buy his paints.

[chowder66]

14. The way Rothko was explained to me (and I get it) is that he was more of an artist for artists.

His paintings have a lot to do with color balance and how colors can evoke moods. Many artists have been inspired by him.


This was explained to me by an art history teacher and an artist, separately. They went into more depth on him but that's all I can remember.

[question everything]

15. Interesting

[Mossfern]

21. Painter/Artist/ Art History minor here

Your friend is correct.
My son texted to me a of Rothko drawing he liked the other day.
I can understand how people don't get his work.

[chowder66]

30. I liked his work before I knew any of that but appreciated it even more after I found out.

[miyazaki]

19. you break it, you buy it.

[jmowreader]

20. That looks like a piece that would be very easy to repair

Since this $56 million painting is three big solid-color rectangles, simply use a spectrophotometer to get you the exact color match of the area the kid screwed up, mix a little paint of the right shade, and spot-paint it.

Oh...and then put the thing behind UV-resistant glass so it doesn't happen again.

[maxsolomon]

23. Kid's fingernails can be like razors!

Rzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Like a cat.

[SWBTATTReg]

28. If a child is able to get to a painting and damage it, what other works of art are in danger? And why are these works

of art left out in the 'open', subject to any kind of possible danger?

Doesn't the needs of the many (to view the item in the future millions of times, behind a protective barrier vs. an unprotected barrier) count for something?

[maxsolomon]

29. They're all in danger of the public.

Very few are behind glass, and that's a good thing.

Docents do most of the shooing away. Some have pressure-sensitive plinths in front that go beep if you step on them.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

31. Museums wrestle with this all the time -- making art accessible while still protecting it.

Doesn't the needs of the many (to view the item in the future millions of times, behind a protective barrier vs. an unprotected barrier) count for something?

Do people have a right to view something as it exists in a certain context? A need?