Leonardo da Vinci

The Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda, is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world." The painting is believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1506, though Leonardo may have continued to work on it until 1517. It depicts Lisa del Giocondo, wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

Leonardo's innovative techniques, such as the use of sfumato to create soft, hazy transitions between colors and tones, contribute to the enigmatic smile and lifelike presence of the subject. The landscape background, rendered with atmospheric perspective, adds to the painting's depth and mystery.