The Mona Lisa is undoubtedly the most famous, researched, debated and talked about painting of all time. It is a half-length portrait of a woman painted in three poplar boards. The creator of painting Leonardo da Vinci also remains an amazing person, his genius on art and science is perhaps beyond other figures in his time.

For years, questions and debates on Mona Lisa never ends. Who is this woman? Although some evidence proved that the woman was Lisa Gherardini, new gossips and reports came out continually. The identification of the woman has kept scholars busy for centuries.

However the main reason that makes the Mona Lisa so precious and famous is the painting itself. Leonardo used his new experiment esfumato technique to place the woman simply and calmly in the space of the painting. Leonardo softened all sharp outlines to give the illusion of depth or three-dimensionality. The woman is portrayed seated in what appears to be an open loggia with dark pillar bases on either side. When looking at Mona Lisa from the left side, she looks taller than from the right. Also the Mona Lisa’s smile is mysterious. Is she happy or sad?

Mona Lisa has no clearly visible eyebrows. In 2007, researchers announced that Mona Lisa was originally painted with eyebrows, but they had gradually disappeared due to passed times and overcleaning.

From the day it came out, the Mona Lisa has created mystery and questions which is exactly a great artwork should be. This everlasting masterpiece is still breathtaking in the Musee du Louvre.