Art attack as protesters flick food at Leonardo di Vinci’s Mona Lisa
Two female protesters threw pumpkin soup at the world’s most famous portrait while calling for better working conditions for French farmers and more sustainable food production
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Environmental protesters have been arrested after hurling soup at the world famous Mona Lisa masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.
The painting, which sits behind bulletproof glass at the Louvre in Paris, was undamaged during the incident.
Video footage of the protest shows two women throwing orange soup at the artwork before launching into a speech about farmers’ rights and the importance of sustainable food production.
The two protesters were wearing T-shirts that read “Riposte Alimentaire”, which means “Food Response” in English.
“What’s the most important thing?” they shouted. “Art, or (the) right to healthy and sustainable food? Our farming system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work.”
Visitors to the museum could be heard gasping “no” as the splatter of pumpkin soup covered the protective glass in front of the Mona Lisa.
Museum security staff quickly put up black screens around the painting and the protesters but couldn’t completely block the view of the scene.
French police said two people were arrested following the incident.
A group called Riposte Alimentaire (Food Response) took responsibility for the stunt.
In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, it said the protest was part of efforts to integrate “food into the general social security system”.
The Mona Lisa was previously attacked in May 2022, when a man threw a custard pie at the painting, saying artists were not focusing enough on “the planet”. The masterpiece was again undamaged. The glass was made bulletproof in 2005.
In 2009, a woman threw an empty teacup at the painting, which slightly scratched the case.
In a country known for a strong protest culture, French farmers have been marching for better working conditions, wages and an easing of regulations they believe are excessive.
Riposte Alimentaire is part of a larger movement of protest groups in 12 countries called A22, which also includes Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.
Museum staff are looking into how the women managed to smuggle the soup into the Louvre, as strict bag controls at most major galleries are normal practice following other attacks on priceless paintings.
Last October, Just Stop Oil poured soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- sustainable food production: growing food in a way that is safe for farmers and the environment
- integrate: combine two or more things together
- social security: a program run by the government of a country to make sure all citizens have enough money to live on
- regulations: rules and laws
- excessive: over-the-top
- normal practice: something usually done by lots of people or groups
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Robert Irwin’s new era of conservation
QUICK QUIZ
1. What is the name of the group responsible for the attack on the Mona Lisa?
2. Why did they throw soup at the famous painting?
3. What other attacks has the Mona Lisa survived?
4. Who painted the Mona Lisa?
5. When was bulletproof glass installed around the masterpiece?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Art versus food
What is the link the protesters might be alluding to between famous art works and healthy and sustainable foods?
Why do you think these protesters chose the Mona Lisa at the world famous Louvre to conduct this protest?
Do you think throwing soup at the Mona Lisa is an effective or ineffective way to get their arguments across?
What might the ramifications of these actions be for the protesters involved?
Do you agree or disagree with protesters that artists are not focusing enough on the planet?
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Art, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Work with a partner and brainstorm some ways that groups like this can protest to get their point across about farmers and sustainable food, that might have a better outcome than this one;
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Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Art, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.
Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.
Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.