In a bizarre act of protest, members of the French organisation Riposte Alimentaire made headlines by splashing Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic 16th-century masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, with pumpkin soup within the hallowed halls of the Louvre.

Shocking footage captures two women boldly bypassing the protective barriers surrounding the world’s most renowned painting before flinging pumpkin soup onto it. To make their statement, the protesters shed their jackets, revealing matching white T-shirts emblazoned with the words ‘Riposte Alimentaire,’ translating to ‘Food Response’ in English. Shouts of “What’s the most important thing? Art, or the right to healthy and sustainable food?” echoed through the gallery.

Their protest centred on the belief that the current farming system is ailing and that farmers are facing dire circumstances. They argue for the right to access healthy and sustainable food. The incident caused quite a stir, but fortunately, the Louvre confirmed that no damage was inflicted upon the Mona Lisa, as it has been displayed behind protective armoured glass since 2005.

In the aftermath, Paris police disclosed the arrest of two individuals, although their identities were not confirmed.

Interestingly, this is not the first time the Mona Lisa has been targeted by activists. In May 2022, another incident occurred when an individual disguised as an elderly woman in a wheelchair attempted to deface the painting by hurling cake at it. While being escorted out of the museum, the provocateur shouted, “Think of the planet!” and even made an unsuccessful attempt to damage the thick protective glass shielding the iconic artwork.