Overview

• Mark Rothko's 'Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8' sustained small scratches in its unvarnished lower paint layer after a child touched it during an unguarded moment.
• The painting, valued at approximately $56 million, was on display at the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen due to ongoing renovations of the main museum building, set to finish by 2030.
• The museum has engaged conservation experts from the Netherlands and abroad to evaluate the damage and develop a restoration plan, with the expectation that the painting will return to public view.
• No images of the damage have been released, and the museum has declined to identify the child involved or comment on who will bear the cost of repairs.
• Modern unvarnished paintings like Rothko's are particularly vulnerable to visible damage, highlighting challenges in balancing public access with artwork preservation.