Without a doubt, one of the world’s most recognizable pieces of art is the Mona Lisa. Painted in the 16thcentury by Leonardo da Vinci, it continues to attract crowds of people who are captivated by the mysterious woman in the portrait. Her enigmatic smile and penetrating gaze reach out through the ages as if she were alive today.

Critics and art lovers still argue about her identity. One theory is that the way she posed suggests that she was with child. Another theory argues that her hairless face – no brows or lashes – indicates that she was a prostitute. It seems that in 16th century Italy women working in the world’s oldest profession had hairless faces in order to make themselves more sexually arousing. There is, however, evidence that at one time the women in the portrait had thick eyebrows. Perhaps they were inadvertently erased when the painting was cleaned. Nobody knows for sure.

The painting itself has an increasing history. With the death of Leonardo, it went to his friend King Francois 1, and then to Louis XV and the palace of Versailles. It wasn’t until 300 years after its completion that it was recognized as a masterpiece. For a time, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte hung it in his bedroom. Eventually, it found a permanent home when it was added to the collection of the Louvre in Paris. In 1911 it was stolen by a museum employee and 2 accomplices. This theft made the painting famous all over the world. During World War 2 it was taken away and hidden from the Nazis, as were many important works of art. Today the painting resides at the Louvre, captivating a whole new generation. Whoever she was, the mysteries surrounding the Mona Lisa continue to engage our imaginations.