Activists who poured soup over Van Gogh’s painting received prison terms

Two activists of the Just Stop Oil climate movement in Great Britain received prison terms for pouring soup over Vincent Van Gogh’s painting “Sunflowers” in the National Gallery in London in October 2022.

The investigation found that 23-year-old Phoebe Plummer and 22-year-old Anna Holland were close to destroying the masterpiece when they poured the contents of two cans of tomato soup onto the priceless work created by the Dutch artist in 1888. After that, the activists glued their palms to the wall under the painting. The canvas frame was damaged. The damage was estimated at 10 thousand pounds sterling.

The picture itself was under protective glass. But gallery employees pointed to the risk of damage to the canvas if the liquid leaked. It was this concern that was mentioned by Judge Christopher Hehir when announcing the decision. “You didn’t care if the picture was damaged or not. You had no right to do what you did with Sunflowers,” said Khehir, addressing the activists.

As a result, Phoebe Plummer was sentenced to 2 years in prison, Anna Holland received 20 months of imprisonment. Earlier, in July of this year, the jury found them guilty.

Holland’s defense at the trial insisted that the activists were confident in the reliable protection of the canvas. Plummer, who represented her own interests, said that “today her choice is to accept any sentence with a smile.” “Today they are condemning not only me, but also the foundations of democracy itself,” Phoebe Plummer emphasized.

On the day of the sentencing, several supporters of the Just Stop Oil movement gathered at the courthouse. They held posters with historical figures imprisoned in different years for their activities, the BBC reported on Friday.

Plummer, as noted by the BBC, also has a three-month prison term for participating in a protest march in west London in November 2023. The action led to a serious disruption in the movement of city transport.

• The Just Stop Oil movement demands an end to the issuance of new licenses and permits for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels. Activists of the movement use various forms of nonviolent resistance, including sit-ins on roads and performances in art galleries and museums, where they pour paint and other liquids over famous works of art.