Museum Barberini in Potsdam
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‘Last Generation’ supporters attack Monet paintings
Sun 10/23/22 | 8:33 p.m. | Of
Monet’s painting “Meules” was auctioned for more than 110 million dollars and has been hanging in the Barberini Museum in Potsdam ever since. On Sunday it was attacked by two representatives of the group “Last Generation” – with mashed potatoes. From G.-S. Russev and V. Witzki
Two supporters of the climate activist group “Last Generation” attacked a painting by Claude Monet on display in Potsdam’s Museum Barberini on Sunday. According to museum spokeswoman Carolin Stranz, they “tampered” with the painting.
Stranz told rbb|24 that the two had spilled mashed potatoes on the painting. A police spokesman confirmed this and told rbb|24 that the two then taped themselves to a wall in the showroom. “The two have since been relieved and arrested for the time being,” said the spokesman. She is being investigated for property damage and trespassing.
“Last Generation” speaks of an attack with mashed potatoes
Speakers of the “Last Generation” said in a statement on Sunday that “two supporters” caused “a riot” in the Barberini Museum in the early afternoon. “They stopped in front of Monet’s ‘Les Meules’ and, with a heavy heart but with determination, threw mashed potatoes at the art treasure,” the statement said.
The painting was not damaged during the action. “In complete contrast to the immeasurable suffering that floods, storms and droughts are already bringing upon us as harbingers of the impending catastrophe,” it said. The “Last Generation” published on Twitter a video of the action [twitter.com].
Image remains undamaged
“Les Meules” does not refer to a single painting by Monet, but to an entire series. The French impressionist (1840-1926) created the 31 works between 1888/89 and 1891. The haystack painting, which hangs as part of the Hasso Platner collection in Potsdam’s Barberini, dates from 1890. In 2019 it went joined Plattner’s collection for $110.7 million at auction at Sotheby’s in New York [nytimes.com].
It is Monet’s most expensive painting ever sold, the museum spokeswoman told rbb|24. “My heart stopped when I heard about the campaign,” she said. The room was closed and an expert examined the work of art for damage. The painting itself was secured with a pane of glass. The museum informed rbb24 Brandenburg that the picture had not been damaged.
Last week, members of the “Just Stop Oil” organization poured tomato soup over van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers” painting in London’s National Gallery.
Action causes a lack of understanding in Brandenburg politics
In Brandenburg politics, the action of the “Last Generation” meets with incomprehension. Potsdam Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) announced on Twitter that the activists were harming their intentions. “This is cultural barbarism and not a political expression of opinion.”
Brandenburg Environment Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) tweeted that “the fight against the climate crisis will not be strengthened by attacks on famous paintings”. Rather, what is needed is a consensus of society as a whole.
State Minister of Culture Manja Schüle (SPD) also condemned the action in the Barberini Museum. The attention of the activists is certain, “but also the support for the mammoth task of climate protection?” Schüle said on Twitter.
Roads and motorway access roads blocked in Berlin
Since the beginning of this year, the group “Last Generation” in Berlin has blocked roads and motorway access roads in particular, with members sticking their hands to the asphalt. Finally, they also climbed up Sign gantries of the Berlin city highway.
In August, two members glued themselves to a Cranach painting in the Berlin Picture Gallery.
Broadcast: Antenne Brandenburg, October 23, 2022, 5:00 p.m