The 1960 artwork, Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8, was scratched by an unattended child at the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, the institution confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

“The painting Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 by Mark Rothko has sustained superficial damage after a child touched the painting while it was on display,” the museum said. “As a result, small scratches are visible in the unvarnished paint layer in the lower part of the painting.”

The museum added that it has sought conservation expertise both in the Netherlands and abroad, and is currently exploring treatment options. Officials expressed confidence that the painting will be able to return to public display in the future.

However, the museum declined to comment on the painting’s valuation, the cost of potential repairs, or who might be responsible for covering those expenses. It also confirmed it will not be releasing images of the damage.

Rothko, a leading figure in abstract expressionism, died in 1970, but his works remain some of the most valuable, often selling for tens of millions of dollars at auction.