The Mona Lisa

 

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting of a woman by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, completed around 1503–1506. The painting, named after the subject's name, Lisa Gherardini, is one of the most famous and iconic paintings in the world. Its original name was "La Gioconda", but it became known as the Mona Lisa due to a mistranslation of the subject's name.

The painting is notable for its exquisite use of sfumato, a painting technique that uses subtle gradations of light and shadow to create a three-dimensional effect. The woman's enigmatic smile is also a defining feature of the painting, which has made it the subject of much speculation and fascination over the years.

The Mona Lisa was painted using oil paints on a poplar wood panel, measuring 77 cm × 53 cm. It is kept in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and is protected by bulletproof glass due to its unique status.

Despite being over 500 years old, the painting remains in excellent condition, thanks to careful preservation and restoration efforts over the years. The Mona Lisa continues to captivate people from all around the world, and its enduring popularity is a testament to the great skill and artistry of Leonardo da Vinci.