Few minutes ago activists targeted Leonardo da Vinci's iconic Mona Lisa painting, hurling soup at its glass protection. The Mona Lisa, a renowned 16th Century masterpiece, has been a centerpiece at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated artworks globally.
Despite the painting's bulletproof glass shield, installed in the early 1950s after an acid attack and later updated in 2019 with a more transparent bulletproof version, the incident has drawn significant attention.
A video shared by Piers Morgan the moment when two protesters, clad in T-shirts labeled "food response," launched soup at the painting. Their act was followed by a vocal demand for the right to "healthy and sustainable food," highlighting concerns over the current agricultural system's flaws.
The museum's security team promptly intervened, placing black screens to obscure the view and evacuating the room shortly thereafter.
This incident in the French capital aligns with recent demonstrations by farmers protesting against escalating fuel costs and demanding simpler regulations. Just last Friday, these protests led to major road blockades in and out of Paris.
The Mona Lisa has been a target for vandals in the past.
In 2019, an activist smeared cake on it, advocating for environmental awareness. Perhaps the most dramatic episode in its history was in 1911, when Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee, stole the painting, leading to an international uproar. He was caught two years later attempting to sell it in Florence, Italy.
