The painting was briefly covered with a large printed photograph by members of the Youth Demand group
A Picasso masterpiece at the National Gallery is undamaged after a protest took place earlier this week, the gallery has confirmed.
Two supporters of young campaign group Youth Demand pasted a photo onto the protective glass protecting Pablo Picasso’s 1901 painting ‘Motherhood (La Maternité), which is on display in the gallery’s Room 43. They then poured red paint on the gallery floor.
The campaign group said the action was taken in demand of a two-way arms embargo on Israel.
The National Gallery told Advisor no damage had been caused to the painting, and the room was reopened shortly after the demonstration.
It said in a statement, “At approximately 11.50am on 9 October 2024 two people entered Room 43 of the National Gallery. One was apprehended after initially attempting to attach what appeared to be a piece of paper to an artwork. Some paint was thrown on the floor. Police attended and arrested the pair.”
The room re-opened to the public at 2.30pm.
A Youth Demand spokesperson said: “It can’t be all carrots and no sticks: a two-way arms embargo is the least Britain can do to stop displacement, destruction and death! Young people will continue to resist genocide-as-usual”.
