Mona Lisa: Enigmater Masterpiece, or just Overanalyzed?

EGarrett

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E
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa

Nowhere in this article does it mention the possibility that Mona Lisa has her strange expression just because she is a model sitting for a long period of time trying not to move while her portrait is being painted.

If you've ever had to wait too long to have your picture taken, you'll notice that a smile quickly becames a blank half-smile sort-of expression.

Don't get me wrong, Da Vinci was obviously a brilliant guy...but he accomplished a LOT more than just a painting of a woman sitting with her hands in her lap. It's a bit stupid to sit around overanalyzing one painting when Da Vinci himself probably didn't nearly think about it that much.

EDIT: Tried to fix the typo in the subject line...it won't let me.
 
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I agree. He did far more interesting work in other areas.
I saw the original in the Louvre a few years back and was pretty unimpressed.
Of course, my girlfriend , who can paint and knows about art, would tell you I'm a complete Philistine in that department.

Bring on the Israelites, I say!
 
I never saw what was so "strange" about her expression, anyway. She just looks like she's trying to restrain a fart because there's an artist in the room with her.
 
It's all about how he wishes he was a woman, or he was gay. I base this on absolutely nothing.
 
Ah, what a great opportunity to plug the www.megamonalisa.com site!

megamonalisa_madonna-and-child.jpg
 
she has no eyebrows

that's it really

I'm not kidding. I'm an artist, trust me on this. Or shave off your eyebrows and see how you look.
 
I haven't seen the La Gioconda in person, and thus I really can't judge, but I do know about posing for paintings. My father had an art group and used to pay me a pittance to sit still for long periods of time. There are portraits of me (clothed) all over the place. :cool: There's even one in my own house, from when I was eighteen.

I just went and looked at it again, and my face has a faraway look to it. I remember I used to create elaborate fantasies in my head while sitting very still and expressionless. Maybe Gioconda was daydreaming.

ETA: Here is a photo of me posing.

3339455691e48ad3c.jpg
 
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LibraryLady said:
I haven't seen the La Gioconda in person, and thus I really can't judge, but I do know about posing for paintings. My father had an art group and used to pay me a pittance to sit still for long periods of time. There are portraits of me (clothed) all over the place. :cool: There's even one in my own house, from when I was eighteen.

I just went and looked at it again, and my face has a faraway look to it. I remember I used to create elaborate fantasies in my head while sitting very still and expressionless. Maybe Gioconda was daydreaming.

ETA: Here is a photo of me posing.

[qimg]http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/imagehosting/3339455691e48ad3c.jpg[/qimg]
Click to expand...
OMG!! What is she thinking about?! Masterpiece photo!! :)
 
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