joconde

La Joconde, also known as the Mona Lisa, is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is considered a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance and is one of the most famous and recognized works of art in the world. The painting is believed to depict Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant.

Leonardo da Vinci is thought to have painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1506, and he may have continued to work on it for several years afterward. The enigmatic smile of the sitter has been a subject of fascination and speculation for centuries. The technique used by Leonardo, sfumato, creates soft, hazy transitions between colors and tones, contributing to the lifelike quality of the portrait and the mysterious aura surrounding the subject.

The Mona Lisa was acquired by King Francis I of France in the 16th century and has been on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris since 1797. Its fame grew significantly after it was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and recovered two years later. The painting has inspired countless reproductions, parodies, and scholarly analyses, solidifying its status as a global cultural icon. Its relatively small size and the protective measures surrounding it at the Louvre are testaments to its immense value and importance.