Paris, France – A climate activist was recently arrested for defacing a painting by renowned French impressionist Claude Monet at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The activist, a member of the environmental group Riposte Alimentaire, stuck an adhesive poster on the painting to draw attention to global heating, according to a police source.
The incident, captured in a video posted online, shows the activist placing a blood-red poster over Monet’s famous work, Coquelicots (Poppies). In the video, she expressed concerns about the potential consequences of inaction on climate change, stating that a “nightmarish image awaits us if no alternative is put in place.”
Completed in 1873, Monet’s painting depicts people with umbrellas strolling in a blooming poppy field. The Musée d’Orsay has not yet commented on the condition of the painting following the incident.
Riposte Alimentaire, the activist group responsible for the defacement, has conducted similar actions in the past to raise awareness about the climate crisis. In addition to the recent incident at the Musée d’Orsay, they have targeted other artworks, including attacks on the Mona Lisa and another Monet painting in Lyon.
The group has been actively engaging in protest actions to draw attention to the urgent need for climate action. Last month, members of Riposte Alimentaire were arrested for allegedly planning another action at the same museum.
The defacement of the Monet painting highlights the growing concern among activists about the lack of decisive action to address climate change. By targeting iconic artworks, these activists hope to spark conversations and inspire meaningful change in environmental policies.