A climate activist from the French environmental group Riposte Alimentaire ('Food Counterattack') was detained today after attaching a protest sign to Claude Monet's "Poppy Field" at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The incident occurred on June 1, 2024, and saw the activist place a sticker over half of the painting, depicting a vision of the scene ravaged by flames and drought in the year 2100. The group stated the action aims to highlight the potential impacts of climate change if significant steps are not taken.
The Musée d'Orsay, known for housing some of the world's most cherished Impressionist art, did not comment on whether the painting was damaged. Paris police confirmed the woman is currently under investigation. This protest is part of a broader campaign by Riposte Alimentaire, which has conducted similar actions targeting artworks in France to advocate for climate action to secure future food supplies. Past protests include throwing soup at the Mona Lisa in January and disrupting the European Bioethics Forum in February.