A climate activist affiliated with Riposte Alimentaire defaced Claude Monet’s painting ‘Coquelicots’ (Poppies) at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris by affixing a blood-red poster, as a protest action to highlight the urgent need for climate action. This incident follows previous attacks by the group on famous artworks in other museums.
A climate activist from the group Riposte Alimentaire defaced Claude Monet’s painting “Coquelicots” (Poppies) at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris on June 1, 2024. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, affixed a blood-red poster to the painting to raise awareness about global heating. This action was recorded and shared on social media.
The activist claimed that the poster represented a catastrophic future scenario if climate action is not taken. Riposte Alimentaire has previously targeted other famous artworks, including attacks on “Mona Lisa” at the Louvre and Monet’s “Springtime” in Lyon. The Musée d’Orsay has not commented on the current condition of “Coquelicots” following the protest. The activist was detained by Paris police for further investigation.
