There are some works of art that went down in history as special, shook the world, caused controversy, changed the way we look at art. Among them, we have selected for you seven of the most famous paintings, which it is impossible to pass by indifferently. 

1. “Mona Lisa”, Leonardo da Vinci

It’s hard to put another work in the first place – Leonardo da Vinci’s “La Gioconda” is the most famous painting of all time. The model was probably Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

Interestingly, according to historians, “La Gioconda” was not known outside the circle of artists until the 20th century. It was only after an employee of the Louvre stole the painting in 1911 and hid it in his house for two years, and then tried to sell it to Italy, because he believed that the place of the “Mona Lisa” was actually there.

2. “The Scream,” Edvard Munch

When commenting on this masterpiece of Expressionism, it is most often said that there is existential pain, expressed through the screaming of the figures in the painting. However, some sources say that in reality the foreground figure is not screaming, but trying to drown out the piercing scream coming from outside. More precisely, it was supposed to be the “scream of nature” in the form of the intense red color of the sky during sunset, which overwhelmed the senses of the sensitive artist and at the same time inspired him to paint this work.

3. “Starry Night,” Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh’s innovative style was initially controversial because it did not fit into the painting standards of the time. Throughout his life, the artist was underestimated in the art world. Only after his death was the unique value of his paintings and the pioneering, bold style he developed recognized.

“Starry Night” is a view captured from the window of his room in an asylum in Saint-Rémy, France, where the Dutch painter was being treated for mental illness.

4. “The Kiss,” Gustav Klimt

The most famous work among Klimt’s gold series. It was, among other things, the innovative use of pure gold on the canvas that made this painting attract the attention of not only the art world. “The Kiss” by Klimt is considered one of the most popular and beloved paintings in pop culture.

5. “Nenufars,” Claude Monet

Monet is called the father of Impressionism. This restless painter was part of a revolution in painting. His first exhibition, shared with other artists who consciously broke the prevailing rules in art at the time, was not spared criticism. 

The famous “Nenufars” have been the subject of Monet’s life, ever since he bought a house in Giverny and fulfilled his dream by arranging a home garden. In 1922, he donated a series depicting nenufars to the French nation, signing an official deed of gift.

6. “Guernica”, Pablo Picasso

This famous painting by Pablo Picasso is an objection to war and its atrocities. Although the Spanish painter did not get politically involved or make paintings on commission, in this case he made an exception. When Guernica was bombed during the Spanish Civil War, he decided to accept an offer he had received earlier to make a painting for the main wall of the Spanish pavilion at the World Exposition.

7. “Persistence of Memory,” Salvador Dali

“Persistence of Memory,” also known as “Persistence of Memory” or “Soft Clocks,” is the most recognizable work of the Spanish painter. It has become a symbol of Surrealism, and Dali himself is said to have said that the inspiration for it came from melting camembert cheese, which he and his wife and friends were eating one evening during dinner.

main photo: unsplash.com/Mika Baumeister