The Mona Lisa soup Incident: Protesters throw soup at Mona Lisa painting in Paris
In a daring act of protest, climate activists took on the iconic “Mona Lisa” at the Louvre Museum in Paris over the weekend, attempting to draw attention to the critical issue of food sustainability. The incident involved two women throwing a red liquid, identified as canned soup, at the famous painting, leading to a commotion among the gathered crowd.
A video captured the moment as the activists crossed the wooden barrier meant to protect the artwork. One of the women, sporting a T-shirt that read “Riposte Alimentaire,” affiliated with a food sustainability activist group in France, posed a thought-provoking question to the onlookers, asking, “What is more important? Art or healthy sustainable food?”
Museum workers swiftly intervened, blocking the view of the activists and the painting. Despite the chaos, the Louvre reassured the public that no damage was done to the masterpiece, thanks to the armored glass shielding it since 2005.
In response to the incident, the Louvre, through an emailed statement to NBC News, disclosed that the affected room, the “Salle des Etats” (Room of the States), was evacuated calmly and closed for 90 minutes to facilitate cleaning. The museum intends to file a complaint, although it remains unclear whether this will be directed towards law enforcement or the activist group.
The “Mona Lisa,” painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, is an exquisite portrayal of an Italian noblewoman, renowned for her enigmatic smile. As one of the world’s most celebrated works of art, it draws an astonishing 10 million visitors to the Louvre annually.
Riposte Alimentaire, on its website, alleges that the French government is failing to uphold its climate commitments and advocates for the establishment of a food system equivalent to France’s state-sponsored healthcare. This proposal aims to enhance public access to healthy food while ensuring fair incomes for farmers.
This incident comes amid protests by disgruntled French farmers employing tractors to set up road blockades across the country, demanding better compensation, reduced bureaucracy, and protection against cheap imports. Some farmers have threatened to converge on Paris, potentially causing a major domestic crisis for Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
Notably, this isn’t the first time climate activists have used international galleries as a stage for their protests. The “Mona Lisa” faced a similar incident in 2022 when an activist smeared cake on the painting, emphasizing the need to consider the environment. Additionally, in the same year, the “Just Stop Oil” group targeted Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London, throwing soup to protest against the renewal of oil and gas licenses by the U.K. government.
This latest event at the Louvre underscores the growing trend of using famous artworks to amplify messages about the climate crisis. It prompts reflection on the intersection between art, activism, and the urgent need for sustainable practices in our daily lives.