The Mona Lisa is a famous portrait painting created by Leonardo da Vinci between 1503 and 1506, during the Italian Renaissance. It depicts a woman with a subtle, enigmatic smile, set against a soft, atmospheric landscape. The painting is known for its detailed realism and the use of sfumato, a technique that blends colors and tones seamlessly. The woman’s calm expression and the balanced composition have made the work iconic in Western art. It is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.