Susan Burns
(In 2011, 56-year old Burns visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington, which was holding a Gaugin retrospective at the time. Upon seeing Gaugin’s “Two Tahitian Women,” she tried to wrench the painting from the w…

Susan Burns

(In 2011, 56-year old Burns visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington, which was holding a Gaugin retrospective at the time. Upon seeing Gaugin’s “Two Tahitian Women,” she tried to wrench the painting from the wall and, unable to do so, began slamming it with her fists. Because the painting was protected by a transparent acrylic shield, however, no damage was done to the work itself.

After being arrested, Burns said, “I feel that Gauguin is evil. He has nudity and is bad for the children. He has two women in the painting and it’s very homosexual. I was trying to remove it. I think it should be burned.” She also warned the police, saying, “I am from the American CIA and I have a radio in my head. I am going to kill you.”)

Christopher Schreck