The Mona Lisa, one of the most recognized and celebrated artworks in the world, was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris in August 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman and painter. Peruggia had worked at the museum and planned the heist meticulously, believing the painting belonged in Italy rather than France. After two years of hiding the painting in his apartment in Florence, he finally attempted to sell it to an art dealer, unaware that the authorities were watching him. Upon the discovery of the painting, Peruggia was promptly arrested, and the artwork was returned to the Louvre.

The theft of the Mona Lisa captivated the public's imagination, leading to heightened interest in the museum and the painting itself. Previously, the Mona Lisa had been a relatively obscure piece, but the theft turned it into a global sensation. News of the heist and the subsequent recovery led to widespread media coverage, with many newspapers running headlines on the story. After its recovery, the painting's fame skyrocketed, making it one of the most visited art pieces in history.

The return of the Mona Lisa to the Louvre established it as a key attraction for the museum and reinforced the cultural significance of art thefts and recoveries in public consciousness. In the years that followed, the episode became a pivotal moment in art history, cementing the painting's place in popular culture and art discourse.