Soup coup?

The visitors to the LouvreA famous art museum in Paris, France. watched in horror. The yellow soup sailed through the air and splashed against Leonardo da VinciAn Italian artist and inventor (1452 - 1519), considered to be one of the world's greatest geniuses. He painted the Mona Lisa and designed an early flying machine.'s masterpiece.

Two women climbed under the barrier in front of the painting. They took off their jackets to reveal T-shirts saying "Riposte Alimentaire" - French for "Food Response."

"What is more important?" they shouted. "Art or the right to healthy and sustainableAble to continue over a long time. food?... Our farmers are dying at work."

Fortunately the painting, protected by a glass screen, was undamaged.

There have been many protests by French farmers in recent days. They say their lives are being made impossible by unfair pricing, cheap imports and new rules to protect the environment.

This is not the first time that the Mona Lisa has been targeted. In 2022 a man disguised as an old woman threw a custard pie at it, shouting "Think of the Earth!"

Other masterpieces have been attacked in the same way. Just Stop OilA UK environmental activist group which uses direct action to protest against fossil fuel production. protesters threw soup at Van GoghA Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.'s Sunflowers in the National Gallery in London.

A New York psychologistSomeone who studies the mind, emotions and behaviour. called Margaret Klein Salomon supports such acts. Her Climate Emergency Fund sends money from rich people to similar groups around the world.

The aim of supporting them, she says, is to "shake us awake" and get people talking: "It's not about liking their style, or even agreeing with everything that they do... this is absolutely needed."¹

But critics say such tactics do important causes more harm than good. They annoy members of the public who would otherwise be sympathetic.

The critics believe protests should be aimed at the people who are seen to cause problems. They should not focus on works of art which enrich all our lives.

The word "Philistine" is used to describe people who lack respect for art. It became widely used thanks to the Victorian poet Matthew Arnold.

Yes: The protesters are right to say that healthy and sustainable food is absolutely essential. Protecting farmers' livelihoods is far more important than an old piece of wood with some paint on top.  

No:  To attack one of humanity's greatest achievements in order to criticise a government's failings is both utterly perverse and deeply disrespectful to the artist. It will only alienate potential allies.

Or... Nothing is more important than art. People, protesters and governments are only here for a short space of time; the Mona Lisa is eternally valuable and will last for ever if properly looked after.