In 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia, who had previously worked for the Louvre, executed a remarkable and bold theft of the world's most recognizable painting, the Mona Lisa. On a Sunday, when he knew the museum would be closed for regular maintenance, Peruggia cleverly hid inside the museum overnight. On Monday morning, he concealed the painting under his clothing and simply walked out. His motivation stemmed from the belief that the Mona Lisa belonged to Italy and had been wrongfully taken by Napoleon a century prior.

Peruggia’s plan seemed foolproof, and he initially evaded capture. After the theft, the world was thrown into a frenzy of speculation and search efforts for the famous artwork. The Mona Lisa's disappearance made headlines around the globe, causing public outcry and increasing its notoriety, particularly in the United States. For over two years, the painting remained missing while the incident became a media sensation.

Ultimately, in late 1913, Peruggia attempted to sell the Mona Lisa to an art dealer in Florence, Italy. This effort led to his arrest and the eventual recovery of the painting. The painting was returned to the Louvre, but the theft had already solidified its status as an iconic piece of art, capturing imaginations and public attention in ways previously unimagined.