Basel Historical Museum receives scandalous painting as a gift
Published: Friday, Jun 14th 2024, 09:20
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The painting and its unveiling in front of the Basel Historical Museum caused a huge scandal 64 years ago. Now the museum has accepted Kurt Fahrner's painting of the naked crucified woman, which had been locked away for many years, as a gift from its sponsoring association.
On the night of April 29, 1959, the Basel artist Kurz Fahrner (1932-1977) unveiled his "Picture of a Crucified Woman of Our Time" on Barfüsserplatz. The police intervened, arrested the artist and confiscated the painting. The scandal made headlines far and wide.
The painting remained in safekeeping until 1980, i.e. until after the artist's death, and was hardly ever seen after that. Now the Verein für das Historische Museum Basel has purchased the painting and donated it to the museum. In the foreseeable future, it will therefore be on display just a few meters behind the place where it was once unveiled.
©Keystone/SDA
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