Each year, millions of people flock to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Almost 80 percent of them come to see one artwork—Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, completed between 1503 and 1519. The immense crowds swarming the space around the portrait leave many museumgoers disappointed, and some say they create a security hazard.
The Mona Lisa is a Renaissance masterpiece. Every day, about 30,000 people wait in line to see it. The 30-inch-tall portrait hangs on a wall and is shielded by bulletproof glass. Behind a barrier, visitors jostle one another to catch a glimpse of the famous work, even if only through their phones’ camera lenses.
Some people believe the crowds and lengthy wait times aren’t worth the few hectic minutes viewers have to see the painting. Even the security staff has called the conditions “suffocating.” Last summer, they went on strike, shutting down the museum for several days to protest congestion, angry visitors, and poor emergency-evacuation procedures.
Louvre officials are considering alternatives, like timed tickets and new entrances, to help regulate crowds. But some art critics say that the Mona Lisa distracts from the rest of the Louvre’s collection—which is the world’s largest. They propose a more drastic solution: moving the painting to a space outside the museum. One critic suggests installing the work near the Carrousel du Louvre (an underground mall that connects to the museum), creating a designated Mona Lisa Pavilion. He believes this attraction would improve visitors’ viewing experiences.
But others think that relocating the painting wouldn’t meet visitors’ expectations. They argue that viewers want to see the Mona Lisa in the famed museum.
What do you think: Should officials move the Mona Lisa to a new location?