Painting is one of the oldest and most stunning forms of art that have ever existed since ancient ancestors produced creations on cave walls. All artists try their best to create a gorgeous art piece, but the process is often more complex than the majority might think. There are millions of paintings exhibited in museums and galleries from all around the globe, but just a few of them transcended time and made history worldwide. The good news is that these famous masterpieces have remained in good condition since they were first created and can be seen by the public in galleries from several countries. If you want to see them with your eyes and remain speechless by the breathtaking beauty of the canvas and their details you can plan trips to check most of the paintings off your bucket list.

But to do so, you need to know the ones that are not to miss, and to help you, we created a list of the paintings you must see at least once in your lifetime.

Mona Lisa
If you were asked to name a famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa would surely be your answer because it’s the most popular painting ever. Since its creation in the early 1500s by Leonardo da Vinci, it has been a delight for visitors who come from thousands of miles away just to see it. It is exhibited in the Louvre, Paris, where 10 million people admire it yearly. Because the masterpiece is so worldly known, it was expected to raise some questions, and the most asked ones are: Who is Mona Lisa, and why does she smile? Because Leonardo didn't leave any clue about her identity, several theories circulated over the years. It is said that she is the wife of Francesco del Giocondo or that she represents Caterina, the painter's mother. Regarding the smile that has driven people crazy over the last decades, anyone can admit that it has an undoubtedly enigmatic characteristic that creates an unnatural calm look but no one can point exactly to the reason that stands behind her smile.

Did you know that the painting was stolen in 1911? The thief was none other than a Louvre employee who thought it might be a good idea to steal such an important painting on an ordinary day in August. Of course, the theft didn't go unnoticed, and soon after, it was found and returned to the Louvre.

The next time you are in Paris, you must visit the famous Mona Lisa. Don't worry if you think you will not find it through the millions of collections; just follow the longest queue, as it will surely guide you to the exceptional painting.

The Last Supper
The Last Supper is another essential art of Leonardo da Vinci, which represents one of Earth's most recognizable art pieces. You will not find the painting in a gallery or museum because it is a mural created on the walls of Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Milan. Although the masterpiece is not in the same condition as the original, visitors still check the scene with Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles and are fascinated by its striking realism.

The Starry Night
Painted in 1889 by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night is a masterpiece of modern culture. Van Gogh painted the art when he was in an asylum in Saint- Rémy-de-Provence, France, after having a breakdown in which he injured a part of his ear with a razor. Now, it is exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where it is greatly appreciated for the fascinating colors of yellow and blue and the dreamy atmosphere created, which reflects the awe of nature when the night sky becomes alive.

After seeing the famous painting, you will surely want art in your home too. Of course, stealing the masterpiece is not a choice (unless you want to spend your next years in jail), but searching for beautiful, budget-friendly solutions might help you. You can opt for beautiful and colorful photography prints, as they come in many models, and you will surely enhance the look of your room with them. Click to visit a website that provides some creative and stunning prints that will make you feel like you are in a gallery.

The Girl With a Pearl Earring
The painting was created by a Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer, and it is considered the "Dutch Mona Lisa'', reflecting nothing else than what is described in the name, that is a girl with a pearl earring. You can visit it in the gallery of Mauritshuis in the Netherlands, and be stunned by the realistic beauty of the girl. The simplicity of the art piece makes it brilliant, as the girl with a turban in the colors of blue and yellow with no other backdrop behind is the entire focus of the painting.

Guernica
The most famous painting of Picasso, Guernica, completed in 1937, tells the story of the bombing of a Spanish city with the same name as the masterpiece during the Spanish Civil War. The art piece remains a powerful political statement that shows the tragedies of wars and how it is inflicted on individuals, especially innocent civilians. Until today it remains an expression of peace and an anti-war symbol.

The Scream
Painted by Edvard Munch, The Scream is on display at The National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, and shows a frightening figure in agony with a furious sky as a background. What catches the eye are the vibrant colors of the painting of blue used for the coat, and blood-red, and orange, for the earth's atmosphere. The painting was also stolen in 2004 and recovered only two years later, in 2006.

Now that you are acquainted with one of the most famous paintings, you can plan a trip to see them in real life. Which one is your favorite?