In the summer of 1911, the art world was rocked when the Mona Lisa, one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings, vanished from the Louvre museum in Paris. The painting had been on display at the museum for many years and was considered one of the crowning jewels of European art. Suspicion quickly fell on a variety of individuals, including art painters and thieves, leading to an extensive investigation. Among those scrutinized was the noted French poet, Guillaume Apollinaire, known for his avant-garde works and connections within Parisian artistic circles.

Apollinaire's name came up during the investigation due to his fascination with art and a rumored involvement in art theft. Authorities arrested him, believing he might know more about the painting’s whereabouts. Ironically, Apollinaire was not involved in any theft. Co-incidentally, his friend, the famous painter Pablo Picasso, also found himself questioning the art theft. This unusual nexus of art and poetry captured public imagination as the police worked to solve the baffling crime, which included a trail of artistic leads, false accusations, and artistic communities in turmoil.

After several days of interrogation, Apollinaire was released without charges, an outcome that reinforced his notoriety as a writer yet did little to dampen the ongoing mystery surrounding the Mona Lisa's disappearance. The painting was eventually recovered in 1913 in Italy, and the case of the stolen Mona Lisa became a sensational tale that intertwines art, crime, and culture, marking one of the most memorable events in the history of art theft.