Monet painting vandalized

[Complexity]

Monet's painting, "Le Pont d'Argenteuil", was deliberately damaged this morning.

Some monsters broke into the Orsay Museum in Paris and punched a four-inch hole in the middle of the painting. They have not yet been caught.

The painting should be reparable.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Maybe they don't like sailboats?

[Gravy]

I'll bet it was someone who was kept waiting in a dentist's office one time too many.

[Unalienable]

DAMN THEM!!!

If I was judge I'd sentence them to years of hard labor. This monster didn't just rob from a museum, they robbed from all of humanity.

I'm sorry if that sounds strident but in my opinion that painting is worth more than the life of that maniac or anything they are bound to accomplish therein.

[Gravy]

DAMN THEM!!!

If I was judge I'd sentence them to years of hard labor. This monster didn't just rob from a museum, they robbed from all of humanity.

I'm sorry if that sounds strident but in my opinion that painting is worth more than the life of that maniac or anything they are bound to accomplish therein.Yes, putting a hole in a painting is truly a crime against humanity.

[Complexity]

DAMN THEM!!!

If I was judge I'd sentence them to years of hard labor. This monster didn't just rob from a museum, they robbed from all of humanity.

I'm sorry if that sounds strident but in my opinion that painting is worth more than the life of that maniac or anything they are bound to accomplish therein.


I agree.

I'd happily put a four-inch hole through the chest of the bastard who did this.

Monet is my favorite painter. I've spent many hours in front of his paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Reminds me of how angry I was when a 'man' took a hammer to Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peters in the Vatican.

[Gravy]

I'd happily put a four-inch hole through the chest of the bastard who did this.I'm going to assume that you're exaggerating. The alternative just makes me sad.

[Complexity]

I'm going to assume that you're exaggerating. The alternative just makes me sad.


At the moment, I'm not exaggerating.

Put in the position of actually confronting him, I'd probably just try to knock him out.

But, if they catch him, I hope he is haunted the rest of his life by people who will make sure that all prospective employers, landlords, and others that might interact with him know what he did.

I hope he suffers.

[shuize]

This reminds me of how I felt back before 9/11 when the Taliban blew up the 6th century Buddhist statutes in Bamyan.

I hope they all rot in hell.

[lionking]

Yes, putting a hole in a painting is truly a crime against humanity.
Well I think it is. I'm not saying that corporal or capital punishment is in order, but surely there are works of art and monuments which, if damaged or destroyed do diminish society as a whole, and that to me can be called a "crime against humanity". I had the pleasure at seeing this painting in the Orsay earlier this year and it is a masterpiece.

[lionking]

Well I think it is. I'm not saying that corporal or capital punishment is in order, but surely there are works of art and monuments which, if damaged or destroyed do diminish society as a whole, and that to me can be called a "crime against humanity". I had the pleasure at seeing this painting in the Orsay earlier this year and it is a masterpiece.
Precisely the type of monument I was thinking of.

[lionking]

This reminds me of how I felt back before 9/11 when the Taliban blew up the 6th century Buddhist statutes in Bamyan.

I hope they all rot in hell.
Precisely the type of monument I was thinking of

[Unalienable]

I agree.

I'd happily put a four-inch hole through the chest of the bastard who did this.

Boy and I thought I was strident.

Monet is my favorite painter.
Mine too, together with Picasso.

I used to have a reproduction of one of his works on my wall and after years of looking at it I still saw new things. With impressionism, sometimes you don't perceive the real genius until you catch it "out of the corner of your eye" in just the right way, and that rarely happens with a cursory examination. A great work of art is not something just to look at briefly and comment "oh, how pretty" ... you have to really hang out with it like it's a good friend, and slowly, you start to know it.

Le Pont d'Argenteuil is one such painting. I hope they don't decide to prevent people from looking at it directly any more like they did with the Mona Lisa. (From what I hear, the Louvre now only lets people see a mirror reflection of the Mona Lisa due to the random acts of a few madmen.)

[Gravy]

Well I think it is. I'm not saying that corporal or capital punishment is in order, but surely there are works of art and monuments which, if damaged or destroyed do diminish society as a whole, and that to me can be called a "crime against humanity". I had the pleasure at seeing this painting in the Orsay earlier this year and it is a masterpiece.Let's keep things in perspective. The painting is reparable. I don't condone vandalism, but it could be argued that a limited act of vandalism like this does humanity a favor by inducing outrage and reminding people how much, and why, they value art.

[Complexity]

Let's keep things in perspective. The painting is reparable. I don't condone vandalism, but it could be argued that a limited act of vandalism like this does humanity a favor by inducing outrage and reminding people how much, and why, they value art.


Perspective?

I value that painting over the vandal's life. He forfeited everything when he deliberately damaged it.

That creature did not do humanity a favor.

I'm furious. Not at you, Gravy - just furious.

I remember when the Taliban destroyed those statues. Everyone involved in that destruction deserves to die.

I feel the same way about people who deliberately pets, children, and other people.

[Mid]

To add a bit more details there was apparently more than 1 person involved, and probably quite a bit of alcohol:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7033018.stm

"We know there were four or five people, likely four boys and a girl, who entered around midnight to 0100, broke a door that was, perhaps, fragile."

[lionking]

Let's keep things in perspective. The painting is reparable. I don't condone vandalism, but it could be argued that a limited act of vandalism like this does humanity a favor by inducing outrage and reminding people how much, and why, they value art.
Gee that's a long bow gravy. It's a bit like destroying the village in order to save it.

[fuelair]

This reminds me of how I felt back before 9/11 when the Taliban blew up the 6th century Buddhist statutes in Bamyan.

I hope they all rot in hell.Definitely - though I felt that way about them even before that particular desecration.

[Zep]

The point is that there's only one such piece of art like that. And the Buddhist statues as well. They cannot ever be replaced as they were before they were damaged or destroyed.

It's like the WTC - you could rebuild the towers precisely as they were, bolt for bolt, but they would never be the same as the originals. Everyone would know that.

And so you can repair this Monet. But now it is a repaired Monet, not the whole original.

[fuelair]

Perspective?

I value that painting over the vandal's life. He forfeited everything when he deliberately damaged it.

That creature did not do humanity a favor.

I'm furious. Not at you, Gravy - just furious.

I remember when the Taliban destroyed those statues. Everyone involved in that destruction deserves to die.

I feel the same way about people who deliberately pets, children, and other people.I'm pretty sure you left out a word in that last line - and I am just about certain we agree there. There are useless lifeforms out there that just work better as fertilizer.

[tkingdoll]

What really amazed me is how easy it apparently was to break in and get access to the painting in the first place. They're lucky it wasn't stolen.

It's funny how the reaction to this story (not necessarily in here, although the tone of this thread is more violent than the other) is so different to the thread about the modern art which was accidentally thrown away by workmen.

[Complexity]

To add a bit more details there was apparently more than 1 person involved, and probably quite a bit of alcohol:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7033018.stm


The alcohol is never an excuse - except in a few odd situation, one chooses to drink and thereby accepts responsibility for whatever may occur while under the influence of alcohol.

[Complexity]

What really amazed me is how easy it apparently was to break and get access to the painting in the first place. They're lucky it wasn't stolen.

It's funny how the reaction to this story (not necessarily in here, although the tone of this thread is more violent than the other) is so different to the thread about the modern art which was accidentally thrown away by workmen.


I was thinking about that last night.

Works of art vary in their value. I don't mean market value, but in how I regard them.

Much of modern art I regard as trash done by a poseur, but some is breathtakingly beautiful and/or haunting, and deserves to be in museums a thousand years from now.

[Tricky]

I felt the same way when the German trash collectors threw away a sculpture, thinking it was construction rubbish (http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2005/01/11/trashedart050111.html). What a great loss to mankind.

[KingMerv00]

I love Monet but no one should die over this.

[shemp]

Did you hear about the guy who vandalized a Jackson Pollock? Of course not; nobody noticed.

[geni]

I understand there is no shortage of copies. So damage to the original is unlikely to be of any significance at this stage.

[The Atheist]

DAMN THEM!!!

If I was judge I'd sentence them to years of hard labor. This monster didn't just rob from a museum, they robbed from all of humanity.

I'm sorry if that sounds strident but in my opinion that painting is worth more than the life of that maniac or anything they are bound to accomplish therein.

I agree.

I'd happily put a four-inch hole through the chest of the bastard who did this.

Monet is my favorite painter. I've spent many hours in front of his paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Reminds me of how angry I was when a 'man' took a hammer to Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peters in the Vatican.

This reminds me of how I felt back before 9/11 when the Taliban blew up the 6th century Buddhist statutes in Bamyan.

I hope they all rot in hell.

Gosh, I hope you were all at least as disgusted when those US Marines raped and murdered the innocent Iraqis a while back.

[Mid]

The alcohol is never an excuse - except in a few odd situation, one chooses to drink and thereby accepts responsibility for whatever may occur while under the influence of alcohol.

I quite agree, I just pointed it out as it could well have contributed to the mindless stupidity this gang showed

[Simon666]

The point is that there's only one such piece of art like that. And the Buddhist statues as well. They cannot ever be replaced as they were before they were damaged or destroyed..
Who cares. If all the art in the world was destroyed, people would still live on and make new art. Besides, it exists on picture and replica's can be made easily. Only a select few would notice. Regarding the buddhist statue in Afghanistan, I don't think it's a loss as it existed in photographs and that's all people needed. You weren't seriously planning to go to on vacation to Talibanland weren't you?


It's like the WTC - you could rebuild the towers precisely as they were, bolt for bolt, but they would never be the same as the originals. Everyone would know that.
That's just a matter of emotion.


And so you can repair this Monet. But now it is a repaired Monet, not the whole original.
So what? At least now it even has some history added to it.

[Darth Rotor]

Reminds me of how angry I was when a 'man' took a hammer to Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peters in the Vatican.
You and me both. I don't grok what motivates this sort of vandalism.

To the perp:

FFS, if you don't like the painting, leave the damned thing alone, and don't go to that room in the museum. :p

It is for situations like this that the unexpurgated term for "feces sack" was invented.

Suggested punishment: five years doing paint by number for his supper. No picture, no dinner.

DR

[AgeGap]

If art is seen as part of our cultural identity, these attacks are attacks on our culture. It would be wrong to destroy Native American or Maori art, so to destoy art that I believe is representative of my culture is also wrong. Another point of view is that I don't like people acting like twats in order to spoil others enjoyment.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Reminds me of how angry I was when a 'man' took a hammer to Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peters in the Vatican.

IIRC, didn't that guy turn out to be a nut? So he may not be totally to blame for his actions.

[figarot]

what's the Monet worth now? for that matter, what was it worth before? what does four inches of a Monet go for these days?

[Tricky]

Some monsters broke into the Orsay Museum in Paris and punched a four-inch hole in the middle of the painting. They have not yet been caught.

The painting should be reparable.
Now here's what I don't get. If there is a four-inch hole in it, but it is repairable, then that obviously means that there will be some touch up work. Maybe a lot.

So if a person who is not Monet touches up his art, then how is it still a Monet? And if the "retouching" required repainting the whole thing, would it still be a Monet? If the same guy who did the retouching painted the whole picture on another canvas, why wouldn't that be a Monet?

I agree that once a piece of art has been well reproduced, then the original is no big deal. It's like the old joke about George Washinton's axe being shown at a museum. "Yeah," the curator says, "it's had three new blades and five new handles, but it's George Washinton's original axe."

[AgeGap]

George Washinton's axe
BBC Radio 4 had a progamme about what is original. I think this was prompted by the Cutty Sark fire and restoration. It stated that a castle in Japan (IIRC Edo Castle) has been rebuilt many times but the Japanese regard it as the same, original castle. I wonder what proportion of work in our art galleries has not had some restoration.

[ImaginalDisc]

Yes, putting a hole in a painting is truly a crime against humanity.

Yes. It is a crime that robs us of our cultural legacy.

[LashL]

In my view, it is certainly a stupid and senseless act of criminality but it hardly amounts to a crime against humanity.

Just my $0.02

[fagin]

Perspective?

I value that painting over the vandal's life. He forfeited everything when he deliberately damaged it.

That creature did not do humanity a favor.

I'm furious. Not at you, Gravy - just furious.

I remember when the Taliban destroyed those statues. Everyone involved in that destruction deserves to die.

I feel the same way about people who deliberately pets, children, and other people.

I too get annoyed at people who deliberately pet children, but surely that's a different thread. Petting other people is quite ok by mutual consent.

[Complexity]

I too get annoyed at people who deliberately pet children, but surely that's a different thread. Petting other people is quite ok by mutual consent.


:o

I forgot a word...

Something like 'hurt', I think.

[Hutch]

It was a Monet, but now it is Baroque...


Please don't punch a 4"hole in my chest for that...

[Complexity]

It was a Monet, but now it is Baroque...


Please don't punch a 4' hole in my chest for that...


Awwwwwww!

You made laugh.

Damn it.

(four foot? that's some chest!)

[Hutch]

(four foot? that's some chest!)

Fixed it. But if you could see my REAL chest...:eek::D

[wuschel]

I value that painting over the vandal's life. He forfeited everything when he deliberately damaged it.I'm hoping it's your emotions talking here, not your mind. For - otherwise - am I the only one here who considers this kind of language just a wee bit ... "problematic"?

[Unalienable]

I'm hoping it's your emotions talking here, not your mind. For - otherwise - am I the only one here who considers this kind of language just a wee bit ... "problematic"?

It's a MONET for crying out loud!!! Do you know who Monet was? This guy wasn't just a painter, this guy was PAINTING INCARNATE. If you showed him a leaf he could whip up the colors that compose that leaf so dead-on that scientific equipment couldn't detect the difference. Then he'd draw the leaf, by pressing the brush against the canvas, and make the leaf form in a single stroke.

Monet's worst piece of crap he ever put out is better than anything that most other painters will ever hope to accomplish.

Come join us, FEEL THE RAGE!!!!

Let's LYNCH THE BASTARDS!!! Who's got some ROPE???

[Tricky]

It's a MONET for crying out loud!!! Do you know who Monet was? This guy wasn't just a painter, this guy was PAINTING INCARNATE. If you showed him a leaf he could whip up the colors that compose that leaf so dead-on that scientific equipment couldn't detect the difference. Then he'd draw the leaf, by pressing the brush against the canvas, and make the leaf form in a single stroke.

Monet's worst piece of crap he ever put out is better than anything that most other painters will ever hope to accomplish.

Come join us, FEEL THE RAGE!!!!

Let's LYNCH THE BASTARDS!!! Who's got some ROPE???
Frankly, I never much liked his stuff. For that matter, I don't care for any of the impressionists. I want the paintings to look what they are supposed to be. Monet's paintings are like how things look to me when I first wake up and haven't put on my glasses yet.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Fixed it. But if you could see my REAL chest...:eek::D

The 4 inches was farther down.

:duck:

[KingMerv00]

Frankly, I never much liked his stuff. For that matter, I don't care for any of the impressionists. I want the paintings to look what they are supposed to be. Monet's paintings are like how things look to me when I first wake up and haven't put on my glasses yet.

While I disapprove of what you say, I'll defend to the death your...

Whoops here comes the mob to punch a 4 inch hole in your chest...later.