EBN-Protesters in France made a bold statement by throwing soup at the glass-protected Mona Lisa, advocating for the right to “healthy and sustainable food.”
The 16th Century masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, housed at the Louvre in central Paris, is renowned worldwide. The Louvre assured that the painting, secured behind protective glass, was undamaged.
Video footage captures two female protesters, donning “food counterattack” T-shirts, tossing liquid. They then position themselves in front of the artwork, questioning: “What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food?” They express concern about the ailing agricultural system and the plight of farmers.
Security Measures and Advocacy for Food Integration:
Museum security swiftly used black screens to shield protesters before clearing the room. Riposte Alimentaire (Food Counterattack) claimed responsibility, asserting that the protest aimed to integrate “food into the social security system.” The group criticized the existing food model for marginalizing vulnerable individuals and proposed a monthly €150 (£128) food card for citizens.
The Louvre reported that members of Riposte Alimentaire, an environmental movement, sprayed pumpkin soup on the painting at 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT) with no damage. The Salle des Etats, where the work is displayed, was evacuated and reopened at 11:30 after cleaning.
“The museum will lodge a complaint,” it added. Rachida Dati, France’s Minister for Culture, emphasized that “no cause” could justify targeting the Mona Lisa, stating that “like our heritage, the painting belongs to future generations.”
In recent days, farmers in the French capital have protested against rising fuel costs and complex regulations, blocking key roads in and out of Paris on Friday.
The Mona Lisa, damaged in the early 1950s by acid, has been protected behind safety glass since. In 2019, the museum upgraded to a more transparent bulletproof glass. In 2022, an activist threw cake, promoting environmental awareness. Stolen in 1911, the painting caused a global stir. Vincenzo Peruggia, a museum employee, hid in a cupboard overnight to take it. Recovered two years later, he attempted to sell it to an antiques dealer in Florence, Italy.
