Rotterdam, a child damages a Rothko work valued at 50 million euros at the museum

An unexpected incident over the weekend shook the art world in the Netherlands and beyond: a Mark Rothko painting was damaged by a child visiting the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam. The work in question, Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 (1960), one of only two Rothko paintings in the Dutch public collections, with an estimated value of 50 million euros based on the artist’s recent auction achievements (in fact, the museum declined to provide the media with a value), was scratched at the bottom by a child who touched the canvas directly with his hands.

According to reports from the museum, the damage occurred in the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the futuristic space opened in 2021 that houses the museum’s collections during renovations to the main building. The depot is known for its radically open approach: works are visible in a visitable storage space, often without the traditional barriers that separate visitors from masterpieces.

The painting was immediately removed from display after the incident on Sunday, April 28, and the museum launched an internal investigation. The scratches caused by the child were described as “superficial,” but they are on an unpainted area of the canvas, making the necessary restoration particularly delicate. The museum is now working with Dutch and international experts to assess the best techniques for intervention, avoiding any procedure that could compromise the integrity of the work.

A museum spokesperson said the child’s family was “very sorry” about the incident and cooperated with staff. It is not yet clear whether they will be asked to contribute to the cost of the restoration, nor has it been specified when or if the painting will go back on display.

The incident has reignited the debate about safety in museums, especially those that adopt more accessible and less protective display models. Unlike many other institutions, the Depot does not use protective glass or marked safety distances around all works, relying on the respect and vigilance of visitors.

However, this is not the first time a Rothko has been damaged. In 2012, a self-styled artist vandalized Black on Maroon at London’s Tate Modern, writing his own name on the canvas with a marker with the idea of raising the work’s value. That incident required months of restoration and raised similar concerns even then about the balance between accessibility and protection.

Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 was acquired by the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in 1970, the year of the artist’s death. It is part of the celebrated series of color-field paintings that made Rothko one of the best-known exponents ofAbstract Expressionism. Its thin surfaces and ethereal color transitions are notoriously difficult to restore without altering its original texture because of the materials Rothko used.

Because of the museum’s policies on facts such as this, no cost or time estimates for restoration have been provided, nor have photographs of the damage been released. However, the museum has stated that it expects that the work may be exhibited again in the future.

Rotterdam, a child damages a Rothko work valued at 50 million euros at the museum

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