Mona Lisa

“Mona Lisa”, also known as “La Gioconda”, is one of the most famous and mysterious works of art in the world. The painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci between 1503 and 1519. Its full title is “Portrait of Lisa del Giocondo”. Today, the painting is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris and attracts millions of visitors each year.

The painting owes its extraordinary popularity to its unique history. In 1911, “Mona Lisa” was stolen and was only returned to the museum three years later, thanks to a series of accidental events. During this time, “Mona Lisa” was on the front pages of newspapers and magazines worldwide. As a result, it became one of the most frequently copied paintings and is revered as a masterpiece of world art.

The image of the woman in the painting, with her gentle smile and deep gaze, has fascinated people for centuries. It is believed that the model for the portrait was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine silk merchant. However, there are other theories about her identity, including the assumption that it is either a self-portrait of Leonardo or an idealized depiction of a woman.

One of the unique features of the painting is the smile—or its apparent absence. Scientists are still searching for an answer to this mystery. If you look directly at the lips, the image appears to “smile,” but if you shift your gaze slightly to the side, the smile seems to “disappear.” Leonardo masterfully created the effect of a “shimmering” smile.

The painting is valued at over 850 million dollars, making it the most expensive painting in the world. However, it is unlikely to ever be sold, as it is considered a national treasure of France.

Due to numerous attempts to damage the painting, it is now protected by special glass that shields it from impact, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.

“Mona Lisa” remains not only a masterpiece of art but also one of the greatest mysteries in art history, continuing to captivate people worldwide.

P.S. Image attribution: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons