A Massachusetts art gallery is experiencing a brush with controversy over a painting it currently has on display.
The portrait of Adolf Hitler at the Marblehead Arts Association was done as part of a young artists exhibit on historical characters.
The show included figures from Darth Vader to Vincent van Gogh.
However, the picture of Hitler has offended family members of Holocaust survivors.
Susan Fader finds the work insensitive.
“To me, it’s kind of blasphemy and inappropriate… I find it totally unnecessary that I should have to look at something that is still so raw for so many,” said Fader.
To the artist, Gage Delprete, Hitler represents negative role models.
“Hitler is the quintessential archetype of evil, tyranny, weakness, fear,” he said.
For his first exhibit ever, the artist wanted to create a conversation.
“I could see how it could be a very emotional piece. I don’t know how it could be offensive,” said Delprete.
Fader doesn’t see the picture of Hitler as art and thinks the gallery should remove the painting.
“Sensitivity to people’s suffering is negated in favor of freedom of speech,” she said.
Both the arts association and Delprete say they have no intention of taking the painting down.