A six-year-old boy visiting the Israel Museum in Jerusalem used a pine cone from the museum's sculpture garden to puncture René Magritte's 1959 painting *Le château des Pyrénées*. Security intervened quickly, and the artwork was removed to the conservation department for repairs. The painting, commissioned by Magritte's friend Harry Torczyner to hide an unpleasant view from his Manhattan office, was donated to the museum in 1985 and is considered a major 20th-century work.
The incident highlights the tension between preserving priceless artworks and providing unrestricted access to visitors. The museum had deliberately avoided placing the painting under glass or alarming it to enhance the viewing experience. Sharon Tager, head of conservation, noted that the restoration would take several weeks and that the department is experienced in handling damaged works, including those from the Holocaust period. The event underscores the vulnerability of iconic art in open-access settings.