What makes the Mona Lisa  one of the most famous paintings in the world? I think that’s a question we’ve all wondered about at some point. Personally, I think there are countless masterpieces that deserve more hype, yet thousands of people visit the Louvre everyday just to see this small portrait. So what actually makes her a world-famous celebrity? The painting itself was unique for its time as Leonardo broke the unspoken rules of portrait painting: he painted her full face

This essay is dedicated to Daniel Naroditsky (November 9, 1995 – October 19, 2025). We grieve over the loss of him, and may he watch us from the skies. “Never play for the win, never play for the draw, just play chess!”  Alexander Khalifman What do chess and life have in common? Some might say it’s the inevitable sacrifices or the permanent feeling of a ticking clock, but for me, it’s about initiative. Once, in a game with a powerful opponent, he demanded: “Do you even unders