In an unexpected twist, a valuable silkscreen print by Andy Warhol, depicting the Netherlands’ former Queen Beatrix, has reportedly ended up in the rubbish, according to officials from a Dutch town hall. This incident arose during the reorganisation of an art collection, wherein the print was accidentally discarded with bulky waste. A statement from the Maashorst municipality revealed that an independent agency had been commissioned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the print’s disappearance.
The Warhol print, created in the 1980s, was among 46 artworks that went missing while stored in the town hall’s basement amid renovation efforts. Unfortunately, the artworks were inadequately protected, and some of them suffered water damage due to a leak in 2023. The exact sequence of events leading to the disposal remains unclear, leaving officials puzzled about who was responsible for the oversight.
The municipality expressed little hope of recovering the lost artworks, which have an estimated total value of around €22,000 (approximately AUD $39,000). The authorities reported the missing pieces to the police in November but faced criticism for their delayed response in acting on the matter.
In a somewhat fortunate turn, the cans used by Warhol were recently salvaged from a trash bag and were found to be in excellent condition. They have now been cleaned and placed on display at the entrance of the town’s museum, adding an ironic touch to Warhol’s legacy of turning everyday objects into art.