Child damages $56M Mark Rothko painting in Dutch museum

A kid in the Netherlands damaged a Mark Rothko painting worth roughly $56 million after he “scratched” it at a Dutch museum, officials said.

The child, who hasn’t been identified, managed to deface the American painter’s 1960 abstract artwork during a visit to the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam.

“The painting ‘Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8’ by Mark Rothko has sustained superficial damage after a child touched the painting when it was on display,” the museum said in a statement.

A Mark Rothko painting worth roughly $56 million was damaged by a child during a visit to the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam. Getty Images

 “As a result, small scratches are visible in the unvarnished paint layer in the lower part of the painting.”

The centerpiece painting has since been removed from display.

“Conservation expertise has been sought in the Netherlands and abroad,” a museum spokesperson said.

“We are currently researching the next steps for the treatment of the painting. We expect that the work will be able to be shown again in the future.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how much the repairs would cost.

The museum also declined to reveal who might be expected to foot the bill.