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Leonardo’s “Mona Lisa” is believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine silk merchant. Every year, millions of visitors jostle for a view at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting, protected by a thick layer of glass that must be cleaned regularly, has never been restored. From "Why Leonardo da Vinci’s brilliance endures, 500 years after his death," May 2019

Photograph by Paolo Woods and Gabriele Galimberti

50 best photos from 2019—so far

In the last six months National Geographic has published hundreds of photographs in print and online. Here are our photo editors’ favorites.

ByCatherine Zuckerman

Curated byWhitney Johnson

July 2, 2019

What makes—or breaks—a good photograph? Halfway through 2019, our Vice President of Visual and Immersive Experiences, Whitney Johnson, asked National Geographic’s photo editors to take stock of what they’ve published so far this year and to choose their favorites. Here are 50 images that depict love and pain—as well as bravery and resilience—across the world.