This Week in Culture
Climate Activists Destroy Important Painting at the National Gallery in the Name of Justice
On Monday 11 a.m., two members of the Just Stop Oil group entered the National Gallery in London and used emergency hammers to strike the glassthat protected a 17th-century painting by Diego Velazquez. The painting, originally titled “The Toilet of Venus,” depicted the Roman goddess looking at her reflection in a mirror. The National Gallery spokeswoman issued a statement saying that the painting had sustained minimal damage.
This is not the first time Just Stop Oil has made headlines for its stunts in British museums. In the past year and a half, they have glued themselves to John Constable’s “The Hay Wain” and thrown tomato soup at “Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” However, this is the first time the group has caused actual damage to an artwork. Previously, several members had been found guilty of causing criminal damage in museums, but the damage was to the frames rather than the artworks. Some members revealed during court cases that they had consulted with art experts to minimize the harm done to the artwork. Nevertheless, the recent damage being inflicted on artistic masterpieces is very concerning. Is it too extreme of a sacrifice in the name of climate justice? Or is it the wake-up call society needs?
Picasso’s Masterpiece Sells for $139 million
In this year’s autumn auction by Sotheby’s in New York, paintings portraying Marie-Thérèse Walter, renowned as Picasso’s “golden muse,” are estimated to have sold for over $2.5 billion. The most prominent piece in this series, titled Femme à la Montre (Woman with Watch), initially estimated at $120 million, surpassed expectations by selling for an impressive $139 million.
Femme à la Montre captures the frontal view of the French model Marie-Thérèse Walter, who shared a secret relationship with Picasso. Their connection began when she was 17, while Picasso was already engaged to Olga Kohklova. Despite this, Marie evolved into Picasso’s “golden muse,” inspiring some of his most celebrated works.
This particular portrait emphasises Marie-Thérèse’s soft form through a series of curved brushstrokes, against a vibrant yet plain backdrop, directing attention to the central figure, Marie herself. Notably, Picasso painted a watch on Marie-Thérèse’s wrist, a symbolic element signifying the significance of their relationship. The watch, one of Picasso’s cherished collectables, portrays the depth of his affection for Walter.
Acquired in 1968 by Emily Fisher Landau, a prominent 20th-century art collector, Femme à la Montre became a part of Landau’s extensive collection. She began collecting art in 1969 after armed burglars broke into her apartment and stole expensive jewellery that had been gifted to her by her husband. Instead of replacing the jewellery with the insurance payout she received, she decided to buy paintings and sculptures. It was said that at the time of her death, her collection could have filled several museums.
This week, 120 pieces from the Fisher Landau collection were sold. at a combined sales price of approximately 500 million euros. This sale marks the beginning of the autumn auction season led by major auction houses, including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips.
Hollywood’s Historic Egyptian Theatre Reopens After Netflix Restoration
Hollywood’s iconic Egyptian Theatre, which hosted Hollywood’s first-ever movie premiere in 1922, is all set to reopen after a 70 million-dollar renovation from Netflix. The theatre has been restored over the years, which has been a challenging task due to its construction like a Hollywood set. The plaster busts of two pharaohs and an elaborate wooden gate were constructed using plaster and chicken wire, and the restoration was made even more difficult after the 1994 Northridge earthquake caused severe damage to the building. However, the theatre has hosted some of the most iconic film premieres, including Ben-Hur, My Fair Lady, and Return of the Jedi. Additionally, it’s one of the five theatres in the US capable of screening historic movies shot on extremely delicate and flammable nitrate film.
Despite the ongoing Hollywood actors’ strike due to the economic disruptions caused by the rise of Netflix’s online streaming model, the company has invested $70 million in the restoration of the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. This is not the first time that Netflix has acquired a historic movie theatre to host events and demonstrate its commitment to industry traditions. In 2019, the company made a similar deal to restore and reopen New York’s Paris Theater. According to Netflix CEO, Ted Sarandos, restoring old movie theatres is a lot like home renovation projects – it takes twice as long and costs twice as much as you would expect. But, it’s worth it to preserve the history of cinema and the memories of stars like Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, and Marlon Brando who once sat in the same seats.
