What makes certain paintings (Mona Lisa, Starry Nights) more famous than other paintings?

by ketotheuniverse

I get that they are well done, but what particularly makes them have more value than other paintings of the same time period.

Searocksandtrees

hi! Hopefully some of the art historians can weigh in with some general factors, but fyi, there have been a few posts on the Mona Lisa specifically, so you can get started on these:

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