What's so damn great about the Mona Lisa?
Painted between 1503 and 1506 in Florence, Italy, the Mona Lisa is arguably the most famous painting in the world, as well as an instantly recognizable icon of present-day visual culture. But of all of Leonardo da Vinci's great works (and there are many), why is it the Mona Lisa? Afterall, it's just another portrait commissioned by a wealthy patron in the early 16th century. Lisa Gherardini Giacondo is seated in the center, hands delicately folded, with an ambiguous expression that slightly borders on a sly smile. She is situated in some kind of natural, outdoor environment as vague as her emotion.
How boring.
Yet for some reason, six million people insist on flocking to the Louvre Museum in Paris each year just to see her, where it is a part of its permanent collection. Even when they finally get to the room where the piece is hung, they can forget about getting close. Hoards of people in small bunches stand around it, fighting anybody who interferes with their ability to take their soon-to-be Facebook picture next to it. Most give up easily and accept the fact that they got a fifteen second glimpse and move on. But what it really comes down to is the experience--not the fact that you saw the Mona Lisa, but the fact that the Mona Lisa saw you.
Why not visit the other portrait galleries where other bored rich wives are on display? John Singleton Copley's 1771 painting of Mrs. Thomas Gage is also a crowd pleaser; why not stand in line for that? Sure, da Vinci used a new technique of blending light and shadow in the Mona Lisa but other artists and other works of art exhibit new approaches all the time. The Mona Lisa's popularity just got the best of her.
Bragging to friends about seeing the Mona Lisa can only get you so many cool points. Until the vast majority of the world's population beings to appreciate the painting for what it actually is instead of treating it otherwise, be prepared for disappointment.
Love this "How boring." it sums up your feelings effectively in just that quick statement.
ReplyDeleteI thought the review was good however it talked more about popular culture then about the piece itself. I did find it witty and well written.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was going to say that I wish you'd focused more on the specifics of the painting itself and what you didn't like about it other than the overall feeling of "this isn't good". Then I remembered that I have seen this painting in person, and the fact that I had forgotten about that really does confirm that there isn't too much to talk about. It truly is boring.
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