The break-in at MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk felt like something straight out of a heist movie. Early on Friday, thieves with a penchant for Pop Art blew the doors off the gallery, zeroing in on two of Andy Warhol's famous "Reigning Queens" screen prints. These were not just any prints; they featured Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Yet, in their haste and evident lack of planning, the robbers overlooked a crucial detail: the limited space in their getaway vehicle.

As they shattered glass and tore the prints from their frames, they likely inflicted significant damage on these rare works. It was a tragic blow not only to MPV Gallery but to the art community. These prints were particularly unique because all four portraits in the "Reigning Queens" series had the same numbering, an unusual feature that adds a layer of irreplaceable value.

Surveillance footage reveals that the thieves initially planned to steal all four screen prints, including those of Dutch Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntfombi Twala of Swaziland. However, their car was simply too small. Faced with this unforeseen snag, they abandoned two of the portraits on the street outside the gallery. This last-minute decision has left Warhol's set tragically incomplete, a shameful fracture of a rare collection.

Gallery owner Mark Peet Visser shared with local media that the prints were set for display at an upcoming art fair in Amsterdam. Now, however, not only is this small piece of art history damaged and divided, but the world has lost access to seeing this cohesive representation of Warhol's vision. This heist underscores the enduring allure of Warhol’s work but also, sadly, the reckless disregard some have for preserving it.

Art Walkway News