Van Gogh Museum Withdraws Pokémon Cards Inspired by the Famous Painter due to Speculators’ Behavior

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam announced this Saturday that it is withdrawing Pokémon cards inspired by the famous painter, an initiative aimed at attracting a young audience, due to the behavior of speculators who buy the most coveted items published in limited numbers to resell them to exorbitant prices.

Launched in September to commemorate the cultural center’s 50th anniversary, the collaboration with Pokémon aimed to seduce young people and included exhibitions showing the links between the work of Vincent Van Gogh and “Japanese art and culture.”

But, this operation has attracted Pokemon card game enthusiasts willing to do anything to get their hands on a limited edition “Pika-portrait” card, which shows Pikachu wearing a gray fedora in a pose inspired by a famous self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh.

This letter was distributed after a game of clues organized in the museum room for young visitors.

The decision was made to allow visitors to tour the exhibition “in a safe and pleasant manner” and to ensure the safety of staff, the institution added.

The number of the cards is determined, so avid collectors are willing to pay huge sums to obtain them.

Speculators obtained as many cards as possible to resell on the Internet.

“Pikachu with a gray fedora” changed hands for hundreds of dollars. One was even for sale on eBay for the astronomical amount of $6,969.

British, American and Canadian fans of the Japanese franchise will have a new opportunity to get this exclusive card thanks to the Pokémon Center, the museum said.

Dutch stores will sell it again early next year, but “it will not be available through the Van Gogh museum,” the statement added.

Van Gogh work found damaged but can be restored, says museum director

The stolen Vincent van Gogh painting that was recovered by a Dutch detective has scratches but can be restored, said the director of the museum to which the work belongs.

The work, valued between three and six million euros (3.2 million and 6.4 million dollars), had been loaned by the Groningen museum.

“The painting is part of the identity of our museum,” said the director, who described the theft as a huge blow. | Photo: AFP

Detective Arthur Brand, known as the “Indiana Jones of art,” recovered the missing painting, in collaboration with the Dutch police.

A man, whose identity was not revealed, gave the detective the painting in a blue IKEA bag, covered with bubble wrap and stuffed in a pillowcase.

“It is not in perfect condition, but it can be restored,” said Groningen museum director Andreas Bluhm.

“When it was in the Ikea bag it was hot, so it’s not ideal. I had already suffered for three and a half years,” she added.

The painting is being examined at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and it could be “months or even weeks” before it is put back on public display, he said.

*Editing with information from AFP

2023-10-15 06:14:32
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