Which painting exemplifies the use of sfumato, created by Leonardo da Vinci?

The Mona Lisa is widely recognized as a prime example of Leonardo da Vinci's use of sfumato, a painting technique characterized by the delicate blending of colors and tones, creating soft transitions between light and shadow. This technique allows for a more naturalistic representation of subjects, contributing to the overall atmospheric quality of the painting.

In the Mona Lisa, the contours of her face and the background landscape are rendered with subtle gradations that avoid harsh lines, enabling a lifelike appearance. The soft edges and the detailed layering of colors generate a sense of depth and three-dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye around the composition and creating a serene, enigmatic expression.

While The Last Supper, The Virgin of the Rocks, and Madonna of the Pinks are significant works by da Vinci, they do not showcase sfumato to the same extent as the Mona Lisa. For instance, The Last Supper is more focused on linear perspective and dramatic composition, while the other two works incorporate some elements of sfumato but are not as iconic or definitive examples of the technique as the Mona Lisa.