In a sticky blend of gastronomy and activism, climate protesters in Paris decided that the world-renowned Mona Lisa needed a bit more tomato in her palette. On Sunday, in the Louvre Museum where the painting has stared enigmatically for hundreds of years, two climate activists hurled soup at the glass protecting the masterpiece, possibly believing that Leonardo da Vinci’s muse could do more to reduce carbon emissions if she were less tight-lipped about the matter.
The activists were reportedly from the French environmental group Riposte Alimentaire, which roughly translates to “food response”, a name that now feels a tad more literal than perhaps initially intended. They had apparently entered the museum disguised as tourists, which is to say they looked at art until they didn’t. The duo approached the bulletproof glass shielding the Mona Lisa and promptly threw soup at it, followed by climbing under the security barrier and making an impassioned plea about protecting the environment. Because if you are going to throw condiments, at least deliver a monologue afterwards.
The Louvre, ever prepared for the merging of modern protest and Renaissance art, confirmed that the Mona Lisa had not been harmed. The painting remained unfazed, protected by a glass case that has more layers than a lasagna and likely costs more than a small yacht. Museum security swiftly escorted the activists away, while startled visitors documented the incident on smartphones with admirable dedication to content creation.
Riposte Alimentaire later released a statement justifying the condiment-flinging by explaining that the act was meant to draw attention to the connection between climate inaction and poor food security. One assumes they did not mean security from soup flinging, although that problem now seems rather pressing. The group is calling for action to ensure everyone has access to healthy and sustainable food, though their chosen menu of protest appears to involve fewer snacks and more splashes.
This is not the first time fine art has been in the splash zone of environmental protest. The Mona Lisa herself has been the target of previous incidents, including one memorable occasion when she was attacked with cake. While the debate over the effectiveness of such gestures rages on, one thing is certain: the Louvre is rapidly becoming the art world’s most surreal cafeteria.
Mona Lisa still smiles, though now perhaps with just a hint of basil.