In an incident that underscores the delicate balance between public access to art and the preservation of priceless works, a child visiting the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands, inadvertently damaged a Mark Rothko painting valued at approximately €50 million ($56 million). The painting, titled Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 (1960), suffered visible scratches on its unvarnished paint layer during what the museum described as “an unguarded moment” .
This event raises pressing questions about the responsibilities of museums in safeguarding their collections while remaining accessible to the public. The Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, currently operating from its Depot while the main building undergoes renovations until 2030, had displayed the Rothko as part of the Lievelingen exhibition, which features seventy of the collection’s most popular pieces .
The museum has not disclosed the identity of the child or their guardians and has declined to comment on who will bear the cost of the damage. Restoration experts are currently assessing the best course of action to repair the painting, with the museum expressing hope that it will eventually be displayed again .
This incident is not isolated; in 2011, visitors accidentally damaged another exhibit at the same museum, highlighting the ongoing challenges institutions face in protecting artworks from unintended harm .
The damage to Rothko’s work serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of art and the importance of implementing effective measures to protect cultural treasures. As museums strive to make art accessible to all, they must also navigate the complexities of preserving the integrity of their collections for future generations.
