Climate activists targeted the “Mona Lisa” with soup, hoping to get their message heard. Videos recorded at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, Jan. 28, show two protesters hurling the liquid at the famous painting, splashing the armored glass that has protected the piece of art since 2005.
Paris police took the two women into custody following the protest. According to the group Riposte Alimentaire, which translates to “Food Response,” the two women involved have been identified as 24-year-old Sasha and 63-year-old Juliette-Marie.
“In France, one in three people skip meals due to lack of means,” The group said posted on “X” in French. “At the same time, 20% of the food produced is thrown away. Our model stigmatizes the most precarious and does not respect our fundamental right to food.”
The environmental group said the protest was done to draw attention to unsustainable food production and hunger in France. Staff members at the Louvre evacuated the room which houses the painting for around 90 minutes while the glass was cleaned. The museum said it is lodging a complaint.
According to NBC News, Louvre officials said in a statement that no damage was done to the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting. The painting attracts 10 million people to the museum every year.
