The Power in Mystery

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci 

Title: The Mona Lisa

Date: 1503-1506

Medium: oil on poplar

Provenance: Italy

Source: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-–-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo

Describe: This is a painting of a woman smiling mysteriously at the viewer. The background is blurry and the colors are dark and muted. The woman sits complacently in front of her natural background. 

Analyze: Da Vinci uses the shape of the triangle for her form and dark mostly primary colors.  The light that is evident on her face brings attention to her smile and eyes. She is the positive space and the darkness of her hair and clothes against her light face and the light background bring her to the very front of the image. This puts emphasis on her. All the lines in this piece are smooth and her clothes look realistic. The background seems way off into the distance and the eye is drawn to her face. The piece is very unified despite the clear distinction between the figure and the background. The attention to her face clearly expresses a sort of wry amusement.

Interpret: The woman in the picture is composed and the slight quirk of her lips indicate laughter and good will. She seems to be mocking the viewer, daring them to guess her secret. Her folded arms are relaxed though her posture is formal so if this was a live model it could've been a great lady. Her beauty, so distinct and evident in this picture, compared to the blurry uneven background suggests a triumph over the beauty of nature. This painting captures the imagination and leaves the viewer wondering what she is smiling about. This piece has the power to capture man's imagination and movies and books have been written about this painting. The true power of mystery is the way it can have a hold on so many. 

Judge: This is a masterful painting which I picked because of how much influence it has had over so many people. People have dedicated their lives to this picture and spent hours analyzing it. This painting proves that art is more than a trifle and that even seemingly simple things can have great power. It is a beautifully done painting that really lives up to Da Vinci's reputation as a genius.