Leonardo da Vincis Work Mona Lisa - Personal Statement Example

Essay Feedback My mate’s formal analysis was Leonardo da Vinci’s seminal work the Mona Lisa. While I was previously familiar with the work, my classmate’s formal analysis elucidated many specific elements of the work. One such element is the name of the work, as ‘mona’ is noted to translate to ‘madam’. This understanding contributed to my furthered understanding of the work, as I gained new insight into the way da Vinci framed the subject. The formal analysis also included a background on the work, further contributing to my understanding of the painting’s context.

Another important insight was the way the work is framed in the museum setting. The reproduction is a towering and seminal work, but in the museum setting it is roped off and appears small. This contributes to my shifting perspective of the work. Another important consideration was the differentiation between painterly and linear elements. To a large degree the formal analysis revealed these characteristics of the work to me for the first time. Now upon examining reproductions I recognize that in large part there is a distinction between the linearity in the woman’s hands, as well as in bodily elements.

I also recognize the painterly elements in terms of the sfumato effect, specifically in articulation of the woman’s mouth. One element I disagree with is the mystery surrounding the woman’s expression. While I recognize art critics popularly argued this feature of the painting, I believe that to a degree such perspectives are overblown and the work can be appreciated simply for its power and depth of creation.