In a shocking incident at the Louvre Museum in Paris, two climate activists threw pumpkin soup at the bulletproof glass protecting the iconic “Mona Lisa” painting. The incident, which was captured on video and posted on social media, showed two women with the words "FOOD RIPOSTE" written on their t-shirts passing under a security barrier to get closer to the painting and hurling soup at the glass. As the soup splashed against the glass, the activists shouted slogans advocating for a sustainable food system.

"What's the most important thing?" they shouted. "Art or the right to a healthy and sustainable food?" They went on to express their concerns about the farming system and the plight of farmers. "Our farming system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work," they said.

The Louvre employees quickly responded to the incident and placed black panels in front of the “Mona Lisa” to shield it from further damage. They also asked visitors to evacuate the room. Paris police confirmed that two people were arrested following the incident.

The activists belong to a group called "Food Riposte," which aims to highlight the need for a better food system and the French government's failure to meet its climate commitments. The group called for the establishment of a state-sponsored healthcare system that would provide better access to healthy food and ensure a decent income for farmers.

This incident is not the first time the “Mona Lisa” has been targeted by activists. In 2022, a man disguised as an elderly lady in a wheelchair smeared cream cake on the painting, while in the same year, two climate activists threw mashed potatoes at Claude Monet's “Les Meules” painting in Germany. In London, environmental protesters threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh's “Sunflowers” painting in 2022. However, in all these incidents, the paintings were protected by glass and remained undamaged.

The attack on the “Mona Lisa” comes amidst ongoing protests by angry French farmers who have been using their tractors to set up road blockades across the country. The farmers are demanding better remuneration for their produce, less red tape, and protection against cheap imports. They have also been dumping agricultural waste at the gates of government offices.

The Louvre Museum has expressed its intention to file a complaint against the activists responsible for the soup-throwing incident. The museum has taken extensive measures to protect the “Mona Lisa” since a visitor poured acid on it in the 1950s. In 2019, the museum installed a new glass with superior transparency to ensure the painting's safety.

The incident raises concerns about security ahead of the Paris Olympics, which is just six months away. The opening ceremony, set to take place on the Seine, will involve a flotilla of boats carrying thousands of athletes past the Louvre. The event is expected to attract a large number of spectators, including heads of state, and security measures are currently under review.

The attack on the “Mona Lisa” serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between activists advocating for climate action and the preservation of cultural heritage. While the activists argue for a sustainable food system, their methods of protest have drawn criticism for potentially damaging irreplaceable works of art.