Susan Burns attacks Gauguin painting
There’s an open space on the wall in the Gauguin exhibit at the National Gallery of Art.
On Friday afternoon, a 53-year-old Alexandria woman allegedly tried to damage the painting, “Two Tahitian Women,” by hitting the plexiglass cover and pulling it from the wall, a National Gallery of Art spokesperson stated.
A security officer nearby restrained the woman, identified as Susan Burns. She was later charged with destruction of property and attempted theft, second degree.
The painting, which depicts two partially nude women, wasn’t damaged.
When asked why she did it, Burns reportedly told police that she was offended by the nudity depicted in the painting, among other issues.
"I feel that Gauguin is evil,” she told police, according to charging documents. “He has nudity and is bad for the children. He has two women in the painting and it's very homosexual. I was trying to remove it."
Gauguin painted “Two Tahitian Women” in 1899, during his quest to find an earthly paradise in Tahiti.
The painting was removed Monday morning so experts from the National Gallery of Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York could carefully inspect for damage.
After a thorough examination, experts determined that the painting wasn’t damaged.
It’s expected to be back on display Tuesday.
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