Climate activists have again attacked an artwork in protest: according to the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, two activists today glued themselves to Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and the adjacent wall, while a third person glued an “unknown substance” ” about the famous spilled painting.
Fortunately, the painting was behind the glass and remained intact, the museum said.
Images posted online showed activists in Just Stop Oil T-shirts shouting, “How are you feeling?” Museum visitors reacted angrily and swore “shame” and “you’re stupid”. Police reported three arrests.
Museum: Art is defenseless
According to the museum, the attack began around 2 pm. One person stuck his head on the glass in front of Vermeer’s painting, another stuck his hand on the green wall next to it, and a third threw the substance.
“Art is defenseless and we strongly condemn any attempt to damage it for any reason,” Mauritshuis declared.
The entrance to the room where “Girl with a Pearl Earring” normally resides was blocked by a large reproduction of an oil painting in the afternoon. According to a security guard, it will likely remain closed for the rest of the day. According to the museum, the famous Vermeer painting will be displayed again “as soon as possible”.