It was June 14 two years ago that two women dipped their hands in paint and glued themselves to the glass protecting the Monet painting “The Artist's Garden at Giverny” at the National Museum. The painting was on loan from the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
The women who carried out the action belonged to the group Restore Wetlands. Together with four other people, they are charged with vandalism, in a trial thatMagasin K covered on Monday.
The six admit to participating in the action but deny committing a crime. They believe they acted in distress due to the climate threat and that the action falls within the freedom of demonstration. Since the painting was behind protective glass and was not damaged, apart from a small stain on the frame, it is believed that the intention was not vandalism.
However, the prosecutor believes that the use of paint and superglue posed a risk to the artwork and is demanding a suspended sentence and daily fines for five of the activists – and a prison sentence for one of them.
