topic Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA in Community Chat

THE MELLOW MONA LISA

Oznell — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:33:17 GMT

So much mysterious serenity. Leonardo did a marvel with her presence, her glowing skin, her little half-smile into which so much can be read, the softness all around her...

I stumbled on a few of the many goofy Mona Lisa memes, and some are quite ugly and distorted-- I wouldn't repro them anywhere. They had GIANT blow-up lips, dwarfing her head, etc.

But this one was a more mild satire of how she'd be depicted today, maybe, with that pursed, selfie-expression-- look familiar?

A bit sad.

Then again, this one below moves into true cartoon-y territory and is truly funny, the Mona Lisa as bored suburbanite--

To me, the original Mona Lisa is so fascinating-- her features aren't "perfect", but there's so much in her face. No wonder he found so much to reveal.

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

Desertdi — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:45:05 GMT

I think the ORIGINAL says, "I know something you don't".

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

JYWilliams — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:40:59 GMT

I saw the panting back in 1989 and I thought it was fascinating as well. They asked that you not take pictures but of course you know it was a knuckle head or two that pulled out cameras. And Security did approach them.

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

haddon9 — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 01:10:45 GMT

@JYWilliams wrote:
I saw the panting back in 1989 and I thought it was fascinating as well. They asked that you not take pictures but of course you know it was a knuckle head or two that pulled out cameras. And Security did approach them.

@JYWilliams I saw it in 2014 and don't remember being told that we couldn't take a picture of it. As a matter of fact, I remember it being very crowded with everyone having their phones out.....maybe that's why? Cell phone cameras vs. and old fashioned film cameras with flashes.

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

on the bay — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 01:18:06 GMT

My mother took us to see the Mona LIsa when it came to the National Gallery of Art, thanks to Jackie O

I remember it even though very young because you really could walk a yard or 2 to the right, then back to the left and her eyes followed you! That is why you may see pictures of people standing off to the side.

I don't know how Leonardo da Vinci did it but he was a genius artist!

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

JYWilliams — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:22:53 GMT

@haddon9, it was the old cameras with he flash. They said something about the flash from the cameras damaging the paint on the picture.

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

patbz — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 05:24:43 GMT

I've seen Mona Lisa three times; the first from the moving sidewalk at Worlds Fair ( also saw La Pieta the same way at the same time).

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

just bee — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 17:14:51 GMT

@Oznell

I've been collecting Mona -- and various versions of Mona -- for decades.

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

Sooner — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 17:17:56 GMT

He would have to paint her with duck lips if he were working here and now. I am so tired of ugly duck lips and smooch lips in so many photos.

Re: THE MELLOW MONA LISA

Oznell — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 23:26:07 GMT

Ha, ha, @just bee , a 'Mona Lisa' bee, with sneakers yet!

That's some kind of crazy dissonance...

@Sooner , ditto, hope the trend will subside, at some point. The Mona Lisa managed to get so far, with the opposite of exaggerated, grotesque features and grotesque everything-- perhaps demure understatement will one day stage a comeback....