Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)

As they painstakingly scrape grime off a monumental painting by French artist Gustave Courbet, the restorers do a remarkable job of ignoring their unusual surroundings: They're watched by crowds of people, many recording on mobile phones.

Paris' Orsay Museum has thrown open to the public a process that often happens behind closed doors.

The cleaning and repairs to "A Burial at Ornans," one of the museum's signature works that Courbet painted between 1849 and 1850, are taking place in a bespoke enclosure with windows for visitors to peer through.

"A great idea," said Jennifer Dasal, a visiting art historian from North Carolina. "If it’s lasting for a while, people can come back and they can watch the restoration over time."

The restoration is expected to take about a year. The painting hasn't had a major overhaul for about 50 years. Layers of varnish that yellowed over time have dulled Courbet's colors. The weight of the huge work has deformed its frame, and its canvas has stitching, folds and tears that need attention.

The museum also plans free guided tours of their work for those who register on its website, with three time slots every Thursday morning from June 5.



Al-Safiyyah Museum in Madinah Celebrates Saudi Arabia's Handicraft Heritage

File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
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Al-Safiyyah Museum in Madinah Celebrates Saudi Arabia's Handicraft Heritage

File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)

Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park in Madinah hosted a vibrant cultural event organized by the Madinah Crafts Association in collaboration with the Heritage Commission as part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative.

The event brought together a diverse group of skilled male and female artisans who showcased traditional crafts that reflect the richness and diversity of Saudi Arabia's national heritage. Among the featured crafts were wood engraving, sadu weaving, hand-weaving, silver jewelry making, wickerwork, palm basket weaving, and Islamic pottery decoration, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Visitors were treated to live demonstrations and interactive workshops, offering a hands-on experience of the creative processes and technical expertise behind each craft. The event also promoted intergenerational dialogue, highlighting the importance of preserving and evolving these age-old traditions as integral elements of the Kingdom’s cultural identity.

Cultural enthusiasts and visitors praised the quality and variety of the products on display, emphasizing the role such events play in raising public awareness about Saudi handicrafts and encouraging their continued development.

The Ministry of Culture, through its Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative, continues to support artisans across the Kingdom by facilitating access to local and global markets and promoting traditional skills rooted in Saudi culture. The initiative aims to ensure the sustainability of the handicraft sector and preserve its rich heritage.