THE MONA LISA
The Mona Lisa is a 16th century portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci began work on the painting in 1503. He spent four years on it but then left it unfinished! It is believed that after the artist moved to France, he spent three more years working on the painting, finally finishing it just before he died in 1519. The French government now owns this popular piece of art. It hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
What makes the Mona Lisa so famous? The artist's choice to paint just half of the person was unusual during his time. Also, the woman's expression in the protrait is hard to figure out -- her direct gaze and half smile make us wonder what she was thinking or feeling. The background of the painting is also unusual, because it does not show a real place.