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What is craquelure on the Mona Lisa?
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Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, 1503β19; in the Louvre, Paris.
On the Mona Lisa, craquelure refers to the small, fine cracks that have appeared in the paint layer across the entire surface of the work as it has dried and aged over time.12
While craquelure is a common phenomenon in aging oil paintings, the pattern on the Mona Lisa varies in intensity; the cracks are notably finer on the subject's hands. This difference is attributed to the thinner oil glazes Leonardo da Vinci applied during his late period of work on the painting. Generally, in the field of art conservation, craquelure is defined as the pattern of fine cracks that develops in the varnish, color, or enamel of a painting, and it serves as a useful indicator for experts when distinguishing between genuine historical works and forgeries.123