The sheer volume of visitors makes it difficult to get close enough to truly appreciate the painting’s detail and artistry.
The Louvre is contemplating relocating the Mona Lisa to her own basement room to address overcrowding and limited space issues within the gallery. With around 10 million visitors annually, experiencing Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece firsthand has become increasingly challenging due to overcrowding complaints.
The proposal aims to provide Mona Lisa with dedicated space, potentially improving visitor accessibility and overall experience. Laurence des Cars, the museum’s director, suggests that moving the painting could alleviate public disappointment, as the current setup may not adequately accommodate visitors. Presently, the painting is displayed behind bulletproof glass in the Salle des États, with crowd control measures in place.
Despite technological upgrades like anti-reflective coatings, curators argue that the current arrangement contradicts Da Vinci’s original intention for the artwork. The potential relocation reflects efforts to balance preserving the painting’s integrity with enhancing visitor accessibility and enjoyment.
