The Man Who Punched a Monet
An argument with Impressionism, settled with a fist
Image: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
- Repair Cost
- Extensive conservation
- Curator's Blood Pressure
- 95%
- Embarrassment Level
- 7/10
- Recovered?
- Restored
- Selfie Involved?
- No
A man punched Claude Monet's 'Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat', tearing a hole through the canvas — later claiming he was protesting the European Union's influence on Ireland.
In 2012 visitors to the National Gallery of Ireland watched in disbelief as a man suddenly drove his fist through a celebrated Impressionist canvas. His stated grievance was the EU's influence on Ireland; his chosen target, bizarrely, was Monet.
Staff restrained him while conservators assessed the damage, and the painting was successfully restored and returned to view. Monet spent years capturing light in delicate brushstrokes. It took one punch to send the painting back to the conservation studio.