19th Century breasts incite painting attack at National Gallery

Gauguin Painting

The Gauguin painting Two Tahitian Women (NSFW, painted breasts), on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to the National Gallery, came under attack by a patron on Friday afternoon. The post-impressionist work was protected by a plexiglas case which the attacker attempted to rip from the wall, and then banged on with her fists.

The Gallery has not identified the attacker, except by her gender, and she did appear in court on Saturday related to the incident.  The painting is part of an on-going exhibit at NGA called Gauguin: Maker of Myth, which runs through early June.  The painting has been removed to the conservation room to inspect its surface with a microscope for damage and may remain out of the exhibit for a period.

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10 thoughts on “19th Century breasts incite painting attack at National Gallery

  1. Further reason why religious kooks and extremists are not fit to be among us.

  2. Was REALLY curious whether this was one of the leftover tea bags or just another category of nut.

  3. There’s a novel called The Swan Thieves with this exact same thing as a plot point – a person attacks a National Gallery painting. It’s not a bad book actually, lots of DC references.

  4. Amen, Michael Steele. Phil, you’re right on point as well. As a country we’re obsessed/terrified about sex/nudity; perhaps edging out even our obsession with race. But violence? Pish posh. If the painting was one showing graphic depictions of violence and gore no one would object to. Now THAT’s crazy.

  5. Wow, to all of you. But certainly to Michael – so not fit to be among us. Will you start wearing your jack boots and SA/SS outfit?

    Freedom and liberty for all, as long as you agree with them – is this what I hear?

  6. There seems to be a tendency to destroy everything from paintings to books because of our own personal tastes. I remember the efforts of some people to erase the word nigger from Mark Twain’s books and now a mad woman comes to a public place and threatens not only the works of art exhibited there but also the visitors who cherish those arts.