Two climate activists from the "Last Generation" movement flung mashed potatoes on a valuable painting by French impressionist Claude Monet at a museum in the German city of Potsdam, just outside Berlin.
The painting from Monet's "Les Meules" ("Haystacks") series sustained no damage and should be back on display on Wednesday, the Museum Barberini said late Sunday.
Museum spokesperson Carolin Stranz said the splattered potatoes were quickly removed and the painting was protected by a glass pane.
The two activists wearing high-visibility orange vests also glued themselves to the floor, with a total of four people involved in the Sunday afternoon protest.
Police spokesperson Mario Heinemann said officers took two people into custody at the museum specializing in impressionist paintings. They are being investigated for trespassing and damage to property.
Last Generation published a video of the attack on Twitter, saying the substance thrown at the painting had been potato purée and calling on politicians to take drastic measures to limit climate change.
"We make this Monet the stage and the public the audience. If it takes a painting – with mashed potatoes or tomato soup thrown at it – to make society remember that the fossil fuel course is killing us all: Then we'll give you mashed potatoes on a painting!"
Climate activists seem to have developed a liking for food for their actions. Two demonstrators, albeit from a different movement, were arrested in London about a week ago after throwing tomato soup on Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers."
However, only the frame sustained slight damage as the image in London's National Gallery was covered by glass.
The painting from Monet's series "Haystacks" hangs in the permanent exhibition of the Museum Barberini from the collection of the founder and multibillionaire Hasso Plattner. The painting fetched $111 million at an auction in 2019 – the highest sum paid for a Monet.
A few days ago, there were indications that environmental activists could carry out an action in the Barberini, the spokesperson said. However, security personnel at the time were able to prevent this. She did not provide further details.
Museum Director Ortrud Westheider said: "With all understanding for the urgent concern of the activists in the face of climate catastrophe, I am shocked by the means with which they seek to lend weight to their demands. In the works of the impressionists, we see the intense artistic engagement with nature."
Such landscape paintings could also give visitors an impetus to "reflect on and question their relationship to the environment," added Westheider.
The gallery said the protesters caused "minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed."
In a similar act of protest on Oct.14, two environmental protesters hit van Gogh's world-renowned work with tomato soup at the National Gallery in London.