Mona Lisa: Painted in the 1500s. A Global Obsession After 1911.

In 1911, the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre. For more than two years, the painting stayed hidden—but her face was everywhere. Meet Vincenzo Peruggia, the man behind the theft. Discover why visitors came to stare at an empty wall, how Picasso became tangled in the investigation, and how the painting’s recovery sparked another wave of headlines. The Mona Lisa was already a masterpiece. The theft amplified her fame. This is the story of how art, crime and publicity helped turn a celebrated portrait into a global obsession. What makes an icon: the artwork, the story surrounding it—or both? Tell us what you think. Subscribe to Context Please for the surprising stories behind history, art and pop culture. #MonaLisa #ArtHistory #ContextPlease