‘Insensitive’ Van Gogh souvenirs eliminated from sale amid backlash

The Courtauld Gallery, which can be discovered in Somerset House in the English funds, is holding its “Van Gogh. Self-portraits” exhibition until finally May perhaps.

It has come less than fire in modern days for some of the merchandise found on sale in its in-person and on-line retail store, which include an eraser in the form of an ear — an obvious reference to the fact that the Dutch painter cut his left ear off. He afterwards used a calendar year at the Saint-Paul de Mausole psychiatric medical center in Saint-Remy in France.

Van Gogh endured with psychological wellbeing challenges throughout his lifestyle and in 1890, at the age of 37, he shot himself.

On Monday, the gallery sent a statement to CNN which acknowledged the “fears elevated about a smaller variety of things readily available in The Courtauld Gallery’s shop and on the internet store.”

“The Courtauld will take psychological health and fitness really very seriously. It was in no way The Courtauld’s intention to present an insensitive or dismissive attitude to this crucial topic by stocking these things,” the assertion read.

“The merchandise in query sort a modest portion of those people made readily available as component of the exhibition assortment. In mild of these concerns, the products will no lengthier be offered in our retailers.”

The gallery did not validate particularly which goods experienced been taken out from sale, but the eraser is not available to obtain by means of its on the net shop.

A £16 ($22) “psychological first assist package” for “20 vital psychological circumstances” is even now on sale.

The merchandise sparked a backlash, notably in regards to the “insensitive” psychological wellness challenges involved with the products.

‘Treated as a joke’

Charles Thomson, a co-founder of the Stuckist artwork motion, instructed CNN Tuesday: “This scenario feels like a smaller but clear illustration of the cynicism and commercialism that has impacted the modern day artwork landscape, as psychological wellbeing and mental sickness are treated as a joke — which they are not — or as a novelty.”

He explained that the sale of “insensitive” gifts is reflective of a latest mindset in inventive circles in which “men and women want to be clever and trendy at the price of obtaining dignity in art.”

Self-explained as a “radical artwork movement,” the Stuckism artwork motion was launched in 1999 and is dedicated to “present-day figurative portray with tips.”

Thomson included that the incident “says a great deal” about society’s existing mindset in direction of mental disease and psychological wellness afflictions, including: “We nonetheless do not take it particularly seriously.”

Art critic David Lee is the editor of The Jackdaw journal, a self-proclaimed vital artwork magazine. He explained to the Mail on Sunday: “I are not able to believe that this isn’t anyone in marketing’s try at tasteless humor in the pub after do the job.”

He referred to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and questioned whether the gallery would consider it acceptable to produce souvenirs relating to the decline of her leg thanks to a gangrene an infection.

“This is, right after all, the Courtauld Institute, supposedly the middle of Art Background in the United kingdom if not Western Europe. Would they, for case in point, be organized to sell pencils in the shape of a fake leg at a Frida Kahlo exhibition?”