What is so special about the Mona Lisa painting, and why is it so expensive?
Here’s a picture. Look at her straight on. Notice her smile.Doesn’t seem like much of one, does it? It kinda seems like she’s smiling, but … it’s reserved, formal, cold.Now, turn your head slightly, and give her a little side-eye. Did she smirk as you were looking away? It disappeared when you turned back towards her, didn’t it? Kinda feels like she’s toying with you, maybe flirting?Da Vinci used sfumato to achieve this effect - it’s layers of paint in order to create the shadows necessary for this trick. It’s intentional. And it utilizes a mind/eye trick to be successful. When humans look at things head on, we view things holistically, and our brains process images as whole concepts. But our peripheral vision pays attention to other details, like changes in motion and sensitivity to light - which is why your peripheral vision picks up on the shadows around her mouth, and make you think she’s smiling.Imagine the research and thought that Da Vinci must have put into making this possible in this one portrait. AND consider how it changes your perception of the character of this person. With a glance of side-eye, she changes from reserved, formal, and cold, to smiling, smirking, flirtatious perhaps? It is the depiction of how any woman in her position and time must have two faces, a public and a private persona.It’s hard to think of any other artist who could change the presentation of colors, light, and shadow through paint alone, in order to present two versions of the same subject, both visually and psychologically. Da Vinci’s unique talent is combining his technologically superior art with his knowledge of human anatomy. It’s incredible and this painting exemplifies it.Personal note: when I finally saw the Mona Lisa in person, I was struck by how lifelike her hands were. I couldn’t stop looking at her hands.
Why is Mona Lisa's smile so special?
Thank you Naveed, for the compliment of the A2A.The smile of the Mona Lisa - or La Gioconda - is special because it is so open to interpretation. Each person who sees it comes away with a different theory as to what it means. And that is precisely what makes it "special".The painting itself is not even remotely the best work that da Vinci ever painted. It is rather muddy in terms of its use of color and technique. Yet the Mona Lisa has compelled the attention of viewers for a long, long time due to that famous engimatic expression. Some people have claimed that this is due to its beauty. Beauty? Maybe. But I think not. Beauty is variable by culture, time, and an individual viewer.I believe it is the enigma of the expression. Because enigma is enchanting. Enigma is the lover's best seductive tool. Will she or won't she? Does she or doesn't she?And when it is in a painting - where we cannot inquire, and the history is unavailable? We will never, ever know for certain. We will ask ourselves and each other forever precisely what that slight lift of the lip, that inscrutable gaze signifies. Mona Lisa is the eternal tease - a mirror of every fantasy we wish to bring to her.