What's the secret behind Mona Lisa's smile?
Leonardo da Vinci "Mona Lisa" 1503-1506
Every year, approximately 6 million people visit the Louvre in Paris to see Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait, the Mona Lisa. This is an oil painting on poplar wood, which Leonardo da Vinci painted from 1503 and took about 4 years to complete, although he is said to have continued to revise it since then. Centuries later, Leonardo da Vinci's ingenuity has sparked many debates to uncover the mystery behind the Mona Lisa. The two biggest mysteries are her identity and the secret to her smile.
Francesco Melzi Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci 1515-1518
Who is Mona Lisa?
Over the years, many questions have been raised about the true identity of the woman in the portrait. Italians call her La Gioconda, which means "carefree woman". The French word for "Mona Lisa" (La Joconde) has a similar meaning, prompting many thoughts and opinions about the Mona Lisa. Most experts now identify her as Lisa Jocondo, the third wife of a wealthy Florentine silk merchant named Francisco Jocondo.
The name "Mona Lisa" is discussed in a biography of Leonardo da Vinci written and published by Giorgio Vasari in 1550. Vasari noted that the Mona Lisa is the protagonist of the painting, noting that "mona" is often used in place of "madonna" in Italian, which translates to "Madame" in English. Therefore, the name "Mona Lisa" means "Mrs. Lisa". In addition, a note written in 1503 by Italian government clerk Agostino Vespucci noted that Lisa del Giocondo was the protagonist of the painting.
However, some experts believe that Lisa del Jocondo was actually the subject of another painting, raising questions about the identity of the Mona Lisa. A popular account suggests that she is the Duchess of Milan, Isabella of Aragon. Leonardo da Vinci, who served as the home painter to the Duke of Milan for 11 years, likely painted the Duchess as the Mona Lisa.
Other researchers have suggested that the painting may depict a mistress of Giuliano de' Medici, who reigned in Florence from 1512 to 1516, or various other women. One recent view is that this is a female version of Leonardo himself. Digital analysis revealed that Leonardo's facial features were almost identical to those of the woman in the painting.
How does she smile?
The mysterious smile of the woman in the painting is a source of inspiration for many and a source of despair for others. In 1852, French artist Luc Maspero jumped from a room on the fourth floor of a hotel and died in Paris. He left a note in his suicide note saying that for years he had struggled to understand the secret behind the woman's smile and that he would rather die.
When discussing the mysteries behind smiles, art experts often refer to a painting technique invented by Leonardo da Vinci called sfumato. In Italian, "sfumato" means "disappeared" or "smoked," implying that the painting is blurred and indistinct, leaving the viewer to imagine its interpretation. This technique uses subtle blends of tones and colors to create the illusion of form, depth and volume.
The human eye consists of two regions: the fovea (or central region) and the surrounding peripheral regions. The fovea recognizes details and color, and reads small print, while the edge areas recognize movement, shadows, and black and white. When a person looks at the painting, the fovea is focused on her eyes, while the fringe area remains on her mouth. Peripheral vision isn't accurate enough to capture details, so the shadows on her cheekbones add to the arc of her smile.
However, when the viewer looks directly at the lady's mouth, the fovea does not receive a shadow, and the portrait no longer appears to smile. So the appearance and disappearance of her smile is indeed an attribute of the viewer's vision. That's why this painting has always been a mystery to art lovers and is probably the most famous painting in the world.