An Andy Warhol work in the skip?

The king of pop art is the victim of a blunder worthy of an administrative vaudeville. In the Netherlands, a work signed Andy Warhol, representing Queen Beatrix, was simply… thrown away during the renovation of a town hall. The disappearance of this work of art is a disturbing development in terms of both culture and heritage.

Andy Warhol’s work in the garbage: an admission by an overwhelmed municipality

The town of Maashorst, the result of a recent merger with Uden, is at the heart of the scandal. During renovation work on the municipal building, 46 works of art were moved without a precise inventory. Among them was an original silkscreen print from the Reigning Queens series, featuring Elizabeth II, Margrethe II of Denmark and Ntombi Twala.

The version devoted to Beatrix, estimated at between $40,000 and $50,000, was reportedly disposed of like common garbage. Andy Warhol’s style, though immediately recognizable, did not catch the eye of any of the handling staff. An unforgivable oversight, according to the experts.

Poor management, irreparable losses

A damning internal report revealed that the works had been stored in a damp basement, without adequate protection, before being scattered and then thrown away. “This is no way to treat valuable objects,” admitted Mayor Hans van der Pas.

For art lovers, it’s a waking nightmare. Dutch detective Arthur Brand, renowned for his investigations into art thefts, expressed his exasperation in the New York Times. His statement is scathing: “Even without knowing anything about art, you can recognize a Warhol.”

A Warhol story: absurd, critical, tragic

Ironically, Andy Warhol himself would probably have smiled at this mishap, as he transformed everyday objects into sacred art. But in this case, the administrative accident becomes an irreversible cultural loss.

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