You had one job, mate.
A chaotic moment was caught on CCTV after a museum visitor somehow managed to break a chair once used (or at least sat on) by none other than Vincent van Gogh — and yes, it’s as painful to watch as it sounds.
The incident happened at [insert museum name], where the man was reportedly taking a closer look at the legendary artist’s furniture when things went full disaster mode.
Security footage shows the visitor leaning a bit too hard on the fragile antique chair — and before you know it: CRACK. Wood snapped, chair collapsed, and what was left of Van Gogh’s seating arrangement ended up in splinters.
You can literally see the moment he realises he messed up.
A staff member can be seen rushing over as the man just kind of… stands there, frozen like someone who just accidentally deleted a Word doc they hadn’t saved since 2017.
The museum has since confirmed that the chair was an authentic 19th-century piece associated with Van Gogh’s time in Arles — and while it wasn’t the actual one in his famous painting “Van Gogh’s Chair,” it was still historically valuable and incredibly fragile.
A spokesperson said:
“The piece was not intended to be touched or leaned on. It has been removed for restoration, and we ask all visitors to respect signage and barriers.”
Translation: Please stop touching stuff, Karen.
People online are reacting with a mix of horror, sympathy, and of course, memes. One commenter wrote:
“This is why we can’t have nice things.”
Another said:
“Imagine breaking Van Gogh’s chair and having to explain that to security. Or your ancestors.”
So if you’re heading to a museum this summer: admire the art. Take the selfies. But maybe don’t sit on 140-year-old furniture?
