Social media was stunned on Sunday by images of the iconic Mona Lisa painting smeared with cake.
Witnesses at Paris’ Louvre Museum say that a man disguised as an elderly woman in a wheelchair jumped up, threw cake at the painting and roses into the air before security escorted him out of the building.
Can anybody translate what ole dude was saying as they where escorting him out?😂 pic.twitter.com/Uy2taZ4ZMm
— Lukeee🧃 (@lukeXC2002) May 29, 2022
While the painting was left undamaged as it is protected by bulletproof glass, reports suggest the attack was an attempt to draw attention to climate change.
In a video of security escorting the man out of the building, he is seen urging people to "think of the Earth".
The portrait of Mona Lisa, painted by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, is one of the most widely-recognised artworks in the world, estimated to be worth over $1 billion.
Attacks and attempted thefts of the Mona Lisa to raise awareness for particular causes have been made throughout history using acid, rocks and a teacup being thrown at the painting.
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