Survey Reveals Majority of Male Louvre Visitors Want Mona Lisa to Appear Happier

A recent visitor survey conducted at the Louvre Museum has uncovered unexpected feedback regarding Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. The study, carried out by the Institute for Social and Spatial Relations, collected approximately 4,500 responses from ticket holders over the past month. Results indicate that 51% of male participants believe the famous portrait subject should display a more cheerful expression. Over one-third of these respondents directly linked their dissatisfaction with the museum experience to the painting's perceived melancholic or weary appearance. The survey was commissioned following the departure of former Louvre Director Laurence des Cars in February, as the institution prepares for its Nouvelle Renaissance renovation project. Several male visitors provided written comments, including a 63-year-old American who criticized the artwork's demeanor from a customer service perspective, and a 31-year-old Danish man who expressed a desire for women to seem content. Researchers noted that numerous male participants suggested replacing the Mona Lisa with an image of a more pleasant-looking woman to enhance visitor satisfaction. The Louvre spokesperson responded to the findings with a rhetorical question about current circumstances warranting smiles. This feedback emerges amid longstanding complaints about the crowded conditions in the room housing the iconic painting.