The Mona Lisa – Art Analysis

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Location: The Louvre (since 1797)
Dimensions: 77 cm x 53 cm
Created: 1503–1517
Subject: Lisa del Giocondo
Genre: Portrait

The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa by the famous Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci is the most famous and recognized painting on the earth. Its famous for its great simplicity, painting style, the mysterious smile etc.

This painting is also known as La Gioconda. Its a half-sized portrait of a woman named Lisa Gherardini. She was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. This was an oil painting on poplar panel created between 1503 and 1506.

At that period the artist used a system called the pyramid design for the woman to stay calm and simple. Leonardo placed the folded hands of the woman at the front corner of the pyramid. He used the same lighting for the face, hands, and breasts. The artist used the armrest of the chair to create the illusion of distance between the observer and the painting. The face of the subject was straightly up with her folded arm describing her reserved mood. But she also looks directly in the eye means she would like to say something or communicate. Some tiny details like the shadows, hair etc. helped the painting to be a greater piece of art. Leonardo applied a new method in this painting. That is not to draw outlines. He applied it to the corner of the mouth and the corner of the eyes. The Mona Lisa was one of the first paintings that were drawn with an imaginary landscape background. The background contains some icy mountains, winding paths and a small bridge that shows no human presence. The curving of her hair and clothes reflects the imaginary landscape behind her. With all these specialties, this painting was the best creation of Leonardo da Vinci.

This painting Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. But in 2007, a French engineer researched and declared that the Mona Lisa was painted with eyebrows. But they disappeared over time. Though some researchers say that eyebrow plucking was not impossible that time.

The Mona Lisa was stolen many times for its fame. Leonardo himself considered this painting as the best work of his life. It is said that he always carried this painting with him. Now, this great painting is placed at The Louvre museum in Paris since 1797.