The Mona Lisa was painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. This iconic portrait is renowned for its subject's enigmatic expression and masterful use of sfumato, a technique that creates soft transitions between colors and tones. Completed in the early 16th century, it hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it attracts millions of visitors annually. The painting's allure is enhanced by various theories about the identity of the sitter, thought to be Lisa Gherardini, and the story behind its creation. The Mona Lisa is widely considered one of the most celebrated works of art in history.