Famous Mona Lisa Faces Spotlight Again This Year... Farmers' Protesters Throw Soup

Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' was once again targeted by an attack. Protesters demanding a shift in France's agricultural policy threw soup at the Mona Lisa, demanding the right to "healthy and sustainable" food.

According to AFP on the 28th (local time), two women at the Louvre Museum in Paris spoke in front of the Mona Lisa, saying in turn, "Which is more important, art or the right to healthy and sustainable food?" and "Your agricultural policy is sick. Our farmers are dying while working," before throwing red and yellow soup.

Protesters pouring soup on the Mona Lisa.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

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The Mona Lisa has been covered with bulletproof glass since it was damaged by a stone thrown by a Bolivian man in 1956, so it was not directly harmed.

Visitors reacted to the unexpected incident by taking photos of the Mona Lisa with their smartphones.

French farmers have been staging tractor protests since the 18th of this month, protesting the abolition of tax exemptions on non-road diesel fuel. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal visited a cattle farm on the 26th and announced support measures for farms, but farmers continue their protests, saying the government's measures are insufficient.

The Mona Lisa, considered the most famous and expensive painting in the world, has often suffered from being a target of "terror" due to its fame.

Two years ago, a man disguised as an old woman shouted, "There are people trying to destroy the Earth," and threw a cake. The man was taken to a psychiatric hospital, and an investigation was conducted on charges of attempting to damage cultural property.

According to foreign media, he exploited the courtesy of giving the front seats to the disabled or elderly and was able to approach the Mona Lisa without suspicion.

In 2009, a Russian woman angry at not obtaining French citizenship threw a teacup.

Environmental activists urging the abandonment of fossil fuels and climate action have questioned whether the painting is more precious than life, food, and the Earth's environment, drawing attention by throwing food or applying glue to their hands to stick themselves to famous paintings across Europe.

As these activists' attacks on famous paintings continue, calls for restraint are growing. In response to increasingly radical protests such as attacks on famous paintings, the UK government established strong punishment laws last fall, and the German government has urged a change in protest methods.

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