MoMA and Art Institute of Chicago deaccessioning sparks debate on museum ethics

A recent commentary examines the deaccessioning methods of prominent museums, particularly focusing on the Art Institute of Chicago's intention to sell Marc Chagall's "Le Jongleur" and the Museum of Modern Art's recent transactions. Nearly fifty years ago, the Art Institute acquired the Chagall and a Matisse from a donor who retained enjoyment rights, leading to the sale's justification as inconsistent with collection goals. MoMA has disposed of nearly its entire collection of pointillist works, keeping only Seurat and one Picasso from Horta de Ebro (1909). A representative mentioned that both Picassos would have been preserved had MoMA been a dedicated Picasso museum. Art historian Seymour Slive cautions against discarding pieces that could regain worth, while the author raises alarms about diminishing donor confidence.