Farmers protests
Two climate activists throw soup at “Mona Lisa” in the Louvre
Soup in the glass. Video image of the attack on the “Mona Lisa” in the Louvre
© David Cantiniaux/AFPTV / AFP
The world-famous “Mona Lisa” has again come into the sights of environmentalists. This time two activists threw soup at the picture in the Louvre in Paris. In protest against “sick agriculture”.
Two climate activists painted the world-famous painting “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci in the Louvre in Paris was thrown with soup. Video footage shows how the two women hit the masterpiece, which was provided with a protective glass, with red soup.
Climate activists from the “Riposte alimentaire”
“What is more important? Art or the right to a healthy and sustainable food system?” the activists shouted in French. And further: “Our agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work.” They called for the “introduction of social security for sustainable nutrition”.
The activists of the French organization wore white T-shirts with the name of their movement on it: “Riposte alimentaire”. Apparently they had smuggled under a security barrier to get as close as possible to the painting. After her attack, Louvre security staff took her away.
“Mona Lisa” has already been attacked several times
In France, farmers have been protesting for days with road and highway closures against bureaucracy, falling income and complex environmental regulations. The largest farmers’ association presented a list with a total of 140 demands.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is one of the most famous works of art in the world. It has already been damaged twice, once by a stone and once by acid, and has since been protected by glass.
In recent years, many activists have targeted well-known works of art to draw attention to climate change. During a protest in May 2022, the glass in front of the “Mona Lisa” was smeared with cream. In other attempts in October 2022, soup was thrown at Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” in London’s National Gallery, and a little later activists stuck themselves to Goya paintings in the Prado Museum in Madrid.