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Mona Lisa Art Critique

To this day, the Mona Lisa is viewed as revolutionary in the history of art. The painting

was accomplished by Leonardo Da Vinci. It is believed that he achieved this remarkable artwork

during his time in Florence, Italy during the early 1500s. Today, the thirty by twenty inch poplar

panel resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. As for the painting’s visuals, it consists of

a woman with an oddly formed smile in her face. In the image, she is sitting with her right arm

overlapping her left arm. Her attire is one notably evident of the time period. As for the

background, at first glance, it is riddled with strewn pieces of foliage and pathways to add that

naturalistic emphasis into the artwork.

Upon further examination, Da Vinci undoubtedly employed countless principles of art.

As for color, he utilized warm, earthy tones on the focal point, Mona Lisa, to emphasize her

presence within the art piece. The Mona Lisa is also renowned for being an example of

asymmetrical balance. Texture is shown in her attire, facial structure, and the singular strands of

her hair. In his work, Leonardo Da Vinci utilized a painting technique called “sfumato”; a

technique which meant he blurred the edges and backdrop that allowed for a more realistic

appearance to the painting. This work of art is titled as Renaissance portrait art and is associated

with the artistic movement of the Renaissance that sprouted at the beginning of the 13th century

in Italy.

In retrospect, the simplicity of the smile might be representative of happiness and of a

joyous nature. However, as many have noticed, the smile comes with a sense of ambiguity that
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could express mystery and uncertainty. Perhaps, with the addition of the naturalistic background,

the painting’s meaning is the firm relationship that develops when the individual and nature

coexist in a peaceful and efficient manner. Given that this painting was created during a major

creative movement in the city of origin, Florence, the time period and location played significant

roles in influencing major historical figures, such as Da Vinci, to engage in creating an array of

artworks. These factors certainly impacted Da Vinci’s decision to employ certain techniques and

art principles to create the Mona Lisa in an incredibly realistic manner, where naturalism was

seen as the standard for his background and realism for the focal point, or the subject, in the

painting.

Da Vinci’s work, to this day, continues to be historically significant by all means because

of his utilization of Renaissance ideals, integration of his own ideas, and ultimately, the

ambiguity and mystery behind the artwork. Therefore, because of the latter, I truly do like the

painting. I find it fascinating given all the theories regarding her smile and the time period it was

made. My fascination and intrigue derives itself from my fanatic nature towards all things

regarding history. Moreover, and lastly, I love how realistic Da Vinci was able to create his work

not only on the individual, but in his consideration for the beauty of nature that surrounds us all.