Mishap
Glue, Soup, and Vermeer
One of the defining images of the museum-protest era
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Image: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Incident ReportCOA / MISHAPS
Accidental Damage Rating
- Repair Cost
- None (protected)
- Curator's Blood Pressure
- 78%
- Embarrassment Level
- 3/10
- Recovered?
- Unharmed
- Selfie Involved?
- No
One activist glued his head to the protective glass of Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' while another poured tomato soup over him.
In October 2022 the Mauritshuis became the backdrop for one of the decade's most recognisable protest images: a man's head glued to the glazing, soup running down his face, a third activist addressing bewildered visitors.
The painting itself, shielded by protective glass, remained untouched. The spectacle circulated instantly around the world. The masterpiece survived unharmed; the internet gained another unforgettable museum moment.