Daily Newsletter How protesters are subverting France’s public landmarks; an "awfully confusing" costume show at The Met; and the true story of an artist, a scammer, and a Wikipedia page.

October 22, 2026 — 5 min read

Against the backdrop of the out-of-touch wealthfest that is Art Basel Paris, there’s an image from the ongoing student protests in France that is seared into my mind: Marianne, the allegorical figure at the center of the Monument à la République in Paris, donning a fluorescent yellow traffic vest, an emblem of the earlier gilets jaunes movement. But this particular garment bears a message: “Police mutilate high schoolers.” It’s a reference to the gruesome injuries sustained by young protesters at the hands of French police, including a 14-year-old boy whose jaw was shattered by a tear grenade.…