The Personal and Cultural Impact of the Mona Lisa
By: Heather Ann
Tags: Mona Lisa, Art, Nonfiction, Essay, Leonardo Da Vinci

The Personal and Cultural Impact of the Mona Lisa

An essay on Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting.

The Mona Lisa has transcended through centuries and has remained one of the most iconic pieces of art to ever exist. People of all ages have been captivated by her mystery, her strong presence — is she smirking or isn’t she? Why do her eyes follow you wherever you go? — and her charm.

Initially, I didn’t necessarily understand the depth of her popularity. While I acknowledged it as a great work, at the end of the day, it was a portrait painting among thousands of others. I’ve always appreciated art from an early age, so it’s only natural that I would go through phases as I developed a better understanding of why certain creations were considered masterpieces. I looked beyond the fact that the Mona Lisa was “just” a portrait and felt the emotional stirrings that great art has always evoked in me.

Leonardo da Vinci was one of my first introductions to the realm of art which lit up the path to classic art. I appreciate and take pride in the refined taste I developed over the years, and a huge reason for it is the Mona Lisa. I honestly don’t know where I would be without the arts, in every form, and owe a lot of it to the door opened to me because of this portrait. That one canvas of blended colors could affect me as profoundly as it did, proves just how significant and meaningful it is to, not just myself, but humanity as a whole. It took me by the hand and brought me into the only world that makes any sense to me.

In 2019, we’re possibly in need of the Mona Lisa more than ever before. Art can bring people together, it can allow for healthy debates without getting into proverbial smack downs like those of politics or religion. Painting’s like da Vinci’s still serve our society with culture, refinement, and history; A moment frozen in time, a window that we can look through centuries later and be exactly where and when the artist was. In this oversaturated digital age, one of the most valuable things we can do for ourselves and future generations is to keep talking about the Mona Lisa, and all classic art period. The importance of maintaining that connection will only serve to benefit society by allowing to understand and be understood, to communicate, to show an appreciation and reverence for all that came before us and undeniably influence the future.

There’s a reason why it’s such a beloved painting. Art is subjective and while it may seem on the surface like a basic portrait, it has so much to offer in that respect. It can mean something different to each person who looks at it. And that in itself is the true genius. Those who end up disappointed or let down by experiencing it in person have set their objective bar too high and aren’t allowing the painting to speak to them individually in the way they need it to. The Mona Lisa is not necessarily meant to blow you away. She’s meant to be appreciated for exactly who she is: the muse of Leonardo da Vinci and the result of his passion for his craft.

©HeatherAnn

More writing by Heather Ann here