Mona Lisa stolen from the Louvre — 1911
On AUG 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre in what became the most famous art theft in history.
An Italian handyman named Vincenzo Peruggia hid in a closet overnight, removed the painting from its frame, and walked out with it under his coat. The theft made international headlines and paradoxically transformed da Vinci's portrait into the world's most recognized artwork. For two years, the painting's whereabouts remained a mystery, captivating the public imagination.
The Mona Lisa's theft reminds us that art's cultural power extends far beyond the gallery walls, shaping how entire generations understand beauty and mystery.
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A handyman hiding in a closet overnight and walking out with a masterpiece under his coat. You genuinely cannot make this stuff up. And the wildest part is that the theft is probably the single biggest reason the Mona Lisa became THE painting everyone on earth recognizes.