The protesters blame the military alliance for stoking the war in Ukraine and argue that “security is not achieved with more weapons”, protest organizers Extinction Rebellion and Fridays For Future said in a joint statement.
In pictures and a video posted on social media, a dozen activists could be seen lying on the floor, corpse-like, in front of Picasso’s masterpiece, inspired by the bloody air raid on the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
Some carried signs with the words “War is the death of people. War is the death of art”.
The protest in one of Europe’s most famous museums lasted about 10 minutes before museum staff removed the protesters, organizers said. The museum declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
Leaders of NATO member countries are due to visit the museum and see the painting during the Tuesday-Thursday summit as the organisation faces the challenge of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On Sunday, several thousand people protested in the streets of Madrid against the summit.
