Famous "Girl With A Pearl Earring" Painting Vandalized By Climate Activists
The Vermeer Masterpiece "Girl with a Pearl Earring" has become the latest famous painting vandalized by climate activists.
Climate activists with the "Just Stop Oil" group targeted Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece "Girl with a Pearl Earring" with glue and a red liquid in a protest against the cost of living crisis and the climate.
The incident took place at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, where the artwork is on display, and was caught on video.
The images show one activist pouring a can of red substance over another protester who appeared to attempt to glue his head to the glass-protected painting. The second man stuck his hand to the panel holding the famous Vermeer artwork.
"The condition of the painting has been investigated by our conservators. Fortunately, the glazed masterpiece was not damaged," the museum said.
"Do You Feel Outraged?" - Why Did The Activists Vandalise "Girl With A Pearl Earring" Painting?
One of the protesters, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Just Stop Oil," shouted: "How do you feel when you see something beautiful and priceless being apparently destroyed before your eyes? Do you feel outraged? Good. That is the feeling when you see the planet being destroyed before our very eyes."
The painting was protected by glass and was not damaged by the action of the activists. Dutch police said three people had been arrested, but gave no further details.
"The police were notified and three people have been arrested. The condition of the painting was inspected by our restorer. Fortunately, the glass-covered masterwork was not damaged," the museum said.
Earlier this month, several activists vandalized iconic paintings, valued at tens of millions of dollars, to draw attention to the climate crisis.
They threw mashed potatoes at a Claude Monet painting in a German museum, and, in London, protesters threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" in the National Gallery. However, the paintings were not damaged, as they were protected by glass.
