ELI5 Mona Lisa - why is it the most famous painting in the world?

Why is the Mona Lisa the most famous painting in the world when many other paintings are technically harder? How was it stolen? Who is Lisa? What is so captivating about her smile? What happened to Louvre visitor numbers after the painting was stolen?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: w00dzy87, idrinkyrmilkshake, denisedenephew, tritter211, sidkkk, bird_thewarbearer, flyingblues and plasma_dan

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