Mona Lisa

Perhaps the most famous painting. Surely. But you might not know the real story behind why it was created. If you care, do read on. If you don't, then you're missing out, but I get it, art is somewhat dull (for those who haven't convinced themself of the opposite.) And I'm not talking about the story of the wife of the wealthy silk merchant from Florence or that it took the best part of two decades for Leonardo da Vinci to (not even) finish the work, which never ended up with the family anyway. Or the story of how it was stolen in the early 20th century, starting its skyrocketing fame, about which a not-worldwide-famous-yet Picasso was interrogated. No. This story is way more fascinating than any of those, by now, surface-level facts about the painting. You might not want to believe the reality I'm about to present, but it is just that, and I'll keep it short, so you have all the time you'll need to get that information settled. The Mona Lisa is a labor-of-love (for its personal importance) landscape hidden behind a self-portrait of a significantly pregnant Da Vinci. And that's all.