The Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance and is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The painting depicts a woman, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo, with an enigmatic smile. The Mona Lisa is considered a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance and is admired for its subtle use of light and shadow and its ability to capture the sitter's complex emotions.