The iconic painting of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci faced a chaotic incident at the Louvre in Paris when protesters splattered soup on its protective casing and the wall behind it. This act of vandalism, carried out by two women from the group Riposte Alimentaire (Food Counterattack), aimed to draw attention to the demand for “healthy and sustainable food.” Fortunately, the 500-year-old oil painting suffered no lasting damage from this incident.
According to the BBC, footage captured by cameras in the Salle des Etats, where the Mona Lisa is exhibited, shows the women pouring soup on the artwork. They can be heard shouting, “What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food? Your agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work.”
Responding swiftly to the situation, museum security promptly surrounded the women with black screens to diffuse the chaos. Subsequently, a brief evacuation was initiated. This is not the first time the Mona Lisa has been subjected to an attack. Since the early 1950s, it has been protected behind safety glass following an incident where a visitor poured acid on it.
The Louvre, as one of the most prestigious art museums in the world, houses countless masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa. Such acts of vandalism raise concerns about the security and protection of valuable artworks. However, the prompt reaction by museum security demonstrates their commitment to safeguarding these precious cultural treasures.
While the act of flinging soup at the Mona Lisa may have caused a temporary disruption, it also highlights the ongoing debates surrounding issues of food sustainability and the importance of a healthy agricultural system. The incident serves as a reminder that these matters continue to be significant topics of discussion and action in today’s society.
