Pablo Picasso’s painting “L’Hétaïre” is back on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) after being sprayed with pink paint by an activist in June.
The MMFA announced it in a press release on Wednesday, stating that the public will be able to see the work presented in the exhibition “Berthe Weill, Galleriste de l’avant-garde parisienne” until Sept. 7.
The painting, which was part of Picasso’s first exhibition in 1902, suffered no damage due to the presence of protective glass, but the gilding of the frame required restoration work.
“The damage to the frame, a work in its own right, mobilized significant resources,” said Mary-Dailey Desmarais, chief curator of the MMFA, in the press release. “We are grateful to the teams who restored it and ensured that the painting returned safely to our galleries.
“Art, artists, and museums are powerful vectors of social transformation and essential allies in building a better world.”
On June 19, an activist from the group Last Generation Canada splashed pink water-based paint on “L’Hétaïre.”
Last Generation Canada is calling on the Canadian government to create a climate disaster protection agency to help those affected by extreme weather events.
The MMFA has assured that it has been taking enhanced security measures since 2022, in the wake of the various activist actions that have affected several museums around the world.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
