Swedish Print Museum Grafikens Hus Burns to the Ground

Sweden’s Grafikens Hus burned to the ground on Sunday, the museum said in a statement. The museum was the country’s sole institution dedicated to printmaking and works on paper. According the a report in the Aftonbladet, police suspect that the fire was started on purpose. Journalists and museum staff alike have said that the loss of the Grafikens Hus’s “irreplaceable collection,” is a, “tragedy for the whole culture of Sweden.” All the works inside the museum as well as the building are said to be beyond hope of salvage.

The alleged arson took place the night before an exhibition of works by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd was set to open. Reuterswärd is best known for his piece Non violence. The sculpture sees a revolver’s barrel tied in a knot. An edition is on view outside of UN headquarters in New York.

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