[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] According to reports from the Associated Press and others, a painting by Vincent van Gogh was stolen on the 30th (local time) from an art museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The thief took advantage of the museum being closed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
According to reports, the Singer Laren Museum in southern Amsterdam and local police announced that around 3:15 a.m. that day, van Gogh's 1884 work "The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring" was stolen. The thieves broke the museum's glass door to enter, and although the alarm was triggered and police arrived at the scene, the culprit had already fled.
The painting is valued at up to 6 million euros (approximately 8.13 billion KRW) and was on loan from the Groninger Museum in Groningen, northern Netherlands, for exhibition, foreign media reported. Although the museum was closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is unclear whether the pandemic affected the security level, the foreign media added.
The stolen work depicts a person standing in a garden surrounded by trees with a church tower in the background. It was created during the time van Gogh stayed in the Dutch countryside with his family, painting what he saw. His masterpiece "The Potato Eaters" also came from this period.
The police stated that a team consisting of forensic experts and art theft specialists is analyzing footage and investigating the surroundings. They are reviewing CCTV and collecting witness statements as part of the investigation. The police also reported the theft to Interpol to prevent the painting from being sold.
The Singer Laren Museum said there were no issues with the security system and stated, "(The artwork) was there to provide comfort during such difficult times. We are shocked and angry about this theft."
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