Art attack: German activists threw mashed potatoes to Monet's 'Les Meules' to protest fossil fuel extraction

In the town of Potsdam, Germany, a group of climate activists threw mashed potatoes at a painting by Claude Monet in protest against the extraction of fossil fuels. Fortunately, the artwork was not damaged.

Two activists from the group Letzte Generation, chose the painting entitled 'Les Meules' - exhibited at the Barberini Museum in that city - to throw a substance at it, which was later reported to be mashed potatoes.

"If it takes a painting - with #PuréDePotatoes or #TomatoSoup thrown in - for society to remember that the course of fossil fuels is killing us all: Then we'll give you #PuréDePotatoes in a painting!" the group wrote on Twitter, along with a video of the incident.

Four people were involved

In total, four people were involved in the incident, according to DPA. Museum authorities later commented that thanks to the glass protecting the painting, it was not damaged. The work was removed to clean the glass, and is expected to return to exhibition on Wednesday. 'Les Meules' is part of the 'Haystacks' collection.

"While I understand the urgent concern of activists in the face of climate catastrophe, I am surprised at the means by which they are trying to give weight to their demands," said the museum's director, Ortrud Westheider.

Another attack on a work of art

Monet's painting is the latest work of art to come under attack by climate activist groups, whose aim is to draw attention to and raise awareness of global warming.

Just a few weeks ago, another similar group, the British Just Stop Oil, threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh's painting 'Sunflowers', which is on display at the National Gallery in London.

The same group has had similar events with other works, such as an antique copy of Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' at the Royal Academy of Arts in the British capital, and John Constable's 'The Hay Wain', also at the National Gallery.