Maya Garaway Week 16: Security Guard Draws Eyes On 1930 Painting

At the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia, a security guard, Alexander Vasilyev, drew eyes onto a 1930s painting with a ballpoint pen during his first shift. The painting is known as “Three Figures” by Anna Leporskaya which was created throughout 1932-1934. This piece was on loan to the center by a museum in Moscow and is a part of a larger temporary exhibit. The incident has been described as a “stupid mistake” by the museum. The security guard, Vasilyev, says that he thought it was a “children’s drawing” and that teenagers were asking him to do it. He is currently under police investigation for vandalism. 

An official at the center, Alexander Drozdov, was able to watch the security cameras and described the incident as a “smashing performance.” Vasilyev is seen using a souvenir pen to draw the eyes. He then proceeds to leave because he “didn't feel well and left.” The museum has taken on new changes in response to this event. The center has recently added protective covers to all of the paintings and is looking into new methods to improve its hiring process.


Personally, I find this story extremely funny (and the picture just makes it even better.) Even though this does not affect many people, I still believe this is an interesting story. To be honest, I did not realize the eyes were drawn on when I first saw the picture of the painting. What are some famous paintings you know of? Would you change anything about them and would it be by a ballpoint souvenir pen? 



https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/16/world/europe/russian-painting-eyes-security-guard.html

Comments

  1. AnonymousFeb 24, 2022, 11:54:00 AM

    It is very funny that this painting was changed in this way, especially as it almost seems as if it looks natural in its altered state. Seeing this headline makes me wonder whether any other pictures have been altered before and we do not know. Maybe someone removed the eyebrows of the Mona Lisa through vandalism, or we gained the idea that Van Gogh cut off his ear through an edited portrait.

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