By Mahealani Palepale
The popularity of the Mona Lisa makes it hard to recall the very first time I viewed a replica of the famed portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci. Before learning in depth the history and composition of this well-known masterpiece, this image has been featured in modern movies or mentioned in music and many other forms of arts. The original, however; is presently kept in a temperature controlled bulletproof glass case at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. The Mona Lisa is secured and maintained frequently to uphold the preservation of the 30 ¼ x 21” oil painting in its original form (Wikipedia). Even though I’m not capable of recalling my first view of her, I can readily admit while reading about Leonardo Da Vinci’s divine work in the text The Western Humanities; I can appreciate the marvelous work of this high renaissance genius.
Mona Lisa features a pyramidal composition, a design Leonardo uses to capture the essence of different focal points beginning at the top of the triangle that flows into detail as it widens at the base. Her softly rounded lit face draws your attention as she appears to be looking right at you. A subtle smile, lifted cheekbones and defined chin complete this feminine figure along with her robust chest and natural wavy hair. She properly sits with her lifelike hands are featured as her forearm is settled on the arm of the chair. She seems relaxed and poised; dark yet calm. This painting introduces the portrait style painting focusing on the representation of the ideal woman. Small details are faint but exclusive such as her black veil, gold embroidery on her dress, and the definition in her hands and the features on her face. In a distance the sky is gray and the landscape is undefined and hazy in its depiction of serenity. This technique is called sfumato where Leonardo softly blends the edges of the surfaces to illustrate a vision rather than a realistic scene (Matthews et al, 2010 p.330). The hazy backdrop features the three elements of land, water and air. Settled and serene, the space divides the elements horizontally offering different color hues.
Admiring this painting closely gave me a new understanding as to why this painting is so legendary. The rhythm and harmony captures a simple yet timeless frame of a woman idolized during the renaissance period. This portrait style is commonly used today, sometimes with scenic back drops or solid colors. I also enjoyed a visual of how women were portrayed in the 15th century.
Works Cited:
Matthews, Roy T., Noble, Thomas F.X., Platt, DeWitt E. (2011) The Western Humanities (Seventh Edition). New York. McGraw-Hill
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa, accessed 3/20/2011
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