Rotterdam: A child has accidentally damaged a highly valuable Mark Rothko painting at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. The artwork, Rothko's Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 (1960), is estimated to be worth up to €50 million.
The incident took place during an "unguarded moment," according to a spokesperson from the museum. Fortunately, the damage was described as "superficial" with small scratches visible in the lower part of the painting.
Conservators from both the Netherlands and abroad are now working on determining the next steps for the treatment of the artwork. The museum has expressed confidence that the piece will be able to be displayed again in the future after conservation efforts. Sophie McAloone, a conservation expert, noted that modern unvarnished paintings like Rothko's are particularly vulnerable to such damage due to the nature of their materials.
The Rothko painting was being exhibited in the museum's Depot, a publicly accessible storage facility, alongside other works from the gallery's collection. The museum has a history of holding visitors accountable for damaging artworks. For instance, in 2011, the museum asked a tourist to pay for repairs to an artwork he accidentally damaged.
The painting is part of the colour field art movement, characterized by large swaths of solid, flat color. As Rothko’s work often uses complex pigment and resin mixtures, restoring this piece could prove to be a challenging task. The museum has not disclosed who might be held liable for the damage but is working with fine art insurers to assess the situation and explore conservation options.
This incident raises concerns for other museums and institutions, particularly those looking to display artworks in more accessible settings. The Rothko damage adds to a history of modern art pieces being damaged in the Netherlands, including an incident involving Andy Warhol prints in November 2024.
