Activists Splash Soup On Glass-Protected Mona Lisa In Paris

Two protesters hurled soup at the glass protecting Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" in Paris

On Sunday, two protesters threw soup at the bulletproof glass protecting Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" in Paris, advocating for the right to "healthy and sustainable food," as reported by an AFP journalist.

This incident occurred amidst nationwide protests by French farmers and is part of a series of similar attacks on artworks calling for increased environmental protection measures.

Two women tossed streams of red and orange soup onto the glass shielding the iconic painting, prompting reactions from the crowd at the Louvre museum. They questioned the prioritization between art and the right to nutritious and sustainable food, expressing concerns about the perceived shortcomings of the agricultural system and the challenges faced by farmers.

The protesters, affiliated with a group named Riposte Alimentaire ("Food counterattack"), took responsibility for the act. In a statement to AFP, they characterized the soup-throwing as the initiation of a civil resistance campaign, emphasizing the demand for social security in sustainable food.

Security staff intervened by placing black screens in front of the protesters and evacuating the room. This incident follows a broader trend of climate activists resorting to symbolic acts against famous artworks to call for increased efforts in environmental protection.

The incident occurs amid ongoing protests by French farmers who are seeking improved pay, tax reforms, and regulatory changes.

With European Parliament elections approaching, the government is working to prevent discontent among agricultural workers from escalating, viewing the elections as a crucial test for President Emmanuel Macron's administration.

To address potential roadblocks into the capital on Monday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal swiftly announced new measures in response to the farmers' protests. This act at the museum follows a trend of climate activists engaging in similar stunts against renowned artworks to advocate for increased efforts to phase out fossil fuels and combat global warming.

In October 2022, activists from the Just Stop Oil group made headlines by splashing tomato soup over the glass protecting Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London, expressing frustration that art lovers prioritize paintings over environmental concerns.

The "Mona Lisa" has been targeted in several incidents before, including a custard pie thrown in May 2022 and a rock thrown by a Bolivian man in December 1956, leading to her placement behind bulletproof glass in 2005. Despite such incidents, the painting has remained unharmed. In 2009, a woman threw an empty teacup at the painting, causing a slight scratch on the case.