Mona Lisa: A Romantic Artwork - Essay Example

Name Instructor Class Date Mona Lisa- A romantic artwork There is no doubt the Leornado Da Vinci’s artwork Mona Lisa is the most popular painting in the world. The painting has been existence for centuries and is popular in many parts of the world. Da Vinci, one of the most famous and gifted Italian painter drew the painting, which depicts the wife of rich merchant—Giocondo. Da Vinci lived drew the painting between 1504 and 1519 when the merchant commissioned him to make half body painting of his wife—Lisa Gherardini (Leonardo 236). The painting hanged a frame measuring 77cm by 53cm and Da Vinci made it on oil poplar. The painting has been subject of many controversies that made the painting more popular than before. One of the controversies surrounding the painting was the meaning of Lisa Gherardini, who seemed to smile during the painting of the artwork. The most popular period of the painting was when it went missing from a museum, but the police arrested the thief arrested after a period of two years. While most people would identify the painting Mona lisa, few people are aware that painting characterize painting of an artist who practiced romantic. Consequently, the painting Mona Lisa exudes some of the characteristics of romanticism where the driving force for art was emotions and imagination rather than reasoning. The most fundamental element of romanticism is the free expression of feelings where the artist manifest his or her feelings. Mona Lisa is a unique painting because it a rare painting that depicts Lisa Gherardini as composed and smiling to the onlookers. This vital aspect of the picture makes it a unique artwork, which illustrate a romantic artwork. The main aspect of a romantic artwork is what the artist sees in his or her subject. In the case of Mona Lisa, Da Vinci expresses his feelings through the artwork where he painted Gherardini’s wife smiling. The fact that the artwork show Lisa Gherardini smiling proves that Da Vinci had the intention of showing to the onlookers that her subject was happy. This explain that smile Lisa Gherardini wore during the painting. To strengthen the expression of feelings, in this case happiness, Da Vinci hired some singers who sang for Gherardini Lisa while he drew her. The singing made the woman happy during the painting, a true expression of the importance the artist placed on feelings. Mona Lisa is a unique painting as it bears that characteristic of a romantic artwork. Before the painting of artwork, none of the artworks artists produced before matched the beauty of Mona Lisa. However, what makes the painting unique is its creativity. Many critics and artists consider the painting a creative piece because no artist had ever captured the beauty of a woman that stunned artists and art lovers, alike. The creation, which characterize the painting, is a fundamental element that describes the work of artists during the romanticism age (Klein 6). Such artists could create original artworks with unique attributes. The painting of the artwork allowed Da Vinci to study the subject and place emphasis on his intuition, and natural feelings to paint the woman. This explains why the artwork is not only lifelike, but also simple and natural. The painting’s depiction of the subject as a simple woman demonstrates Da Vinci pursuit of the romanticism values, which emphasized on natural feelings. Another fundamental aspect of romanticism is the shift from urban to what is rural, an attribute the painting of Mona Lisa possesses. During the romantic period, many artists developed a new interest in painting artworks depicting natural settings rather than focusing on urban themes. This is the case with Da Vinci whose painting Mona Lisa shows a simple rural woman. At the center of the painting is Lisa Gherardini, a rural woman with her hands folded giving the impression of her virtuousness. In addition, background of the painting describes a rural setting with hills and a river or a stream in the background. The emphasis on the rural setting in the artwork places that painting of Mona Lisa, as a romantic artwork, a school of major influence during the time when Da Vinci lived. The appeal of romanticism to artists such as Da Vinci explains why Da Vinci settled to paint the wife of a rural merchant against a natural setting with hills and rivers. The emphasis on the country life marks a significant characteristic of the artwork. The painting Mona Lisa would be incomplete without the background, which has a deeper meaning that what onlookers would think to be a natural and serene environment. During the romanticism period, artists focused on a natural setting and shifted their attention from the urban setting that seems to dilute the importance of natural life (Klein 6). For many artists, romanticism motivated the transition from urban life and a rebellion of modernity where artist demonstrated the richness of nature rather than an urban society with many ills (Cunningham and Reich 430). If romanticism was rebellion against urban setting and themes, then Da Vinci’s painting, Mona Lisa, perfectly fits the description of a painting that moves away from the urban setting and placed emphasis on nature. This explains why the artwork has rivers and hills in the background and not buildings and structures depicting urbanization. Apart from focusing on natural settings, many romantic artists such as Da Vinci pursued expressed mystic and medieval themes, a contrast to the popular wave of urbanization sweeping across Europe and other parts of the world. When looking at the Mona Lisa painting, it is not difficult to notice the painting depicting some mystery not to mention revealing some medieval aspect in the scene. The scene and the main subject—Lisa Gherardini are both mysterious (Leonardo 236).This is the main reasons why the painting has been unique and famous for the attractiveness of the paintwork. Indeed the mystery of the paintwork rests on main subject who appears to smile, but for unknown reason. The mysteriousness of the photo and the medieval aspect of the photo lends the paintwork as a masterpiece of Da Vinci, an artist who believed in the spirit of romanticism. The mystical aspect of Da Vinci’s artwork will continue to make Mona Lisa, a unique artwork that manifest the salient features of the romanticism. During the romantic period, many artists emphasized on individuality and creativity, a fundamental attribute of the Mona Lisa painting. Rather than rely on strict formal rules when painting, romanticism offered artist the opportunity to be creative and express their subjectivity in their paintwork. This is why Da Vinci focused on the individuality of her subject when painting Mona Lisa (Klein 6). More important, the artwork depicts the spirit of Da Vinci as being the driving force toward the painting of the artwork. In many painting during the romantic period, artists focused on tying nature and man into a seamless relationship evident in many painting (Cunningham and Reich 430). The details Da Vinci captured echo the emphasis the artist had on the individuality of the subject. The Mona Lisa painting reveals details of the subject as the artwork emphasis on the lips, hands, and eyes. This special focus reveals the influence of romanticism during the 1500s. The emphasis on the individuality of the subject makes the Mona Lisa possess life like properties that have made the photo famous and appealing to many people around the world. Even as, the photo underscore the motivation of the romantic period, it revealed the impact of romanticism on western civilization. Da Vinci’s paintwork, Mona Lisa, continues to be a famous painting that is widely known in many parts of the word. The painting is spectacular and appealing because of the subject, a wife of a rich merchant Da Vinci painted in early 1500s. The painting is unique and appealing given the motivation and influence of romanticism on the work of Da Vinci. The artwork demonstrates that Da Vinci focused on expression of feeling rather than reason as the painting creates an aura of emotion. In addition, the painting depict rural life and a mystic feeling a predominant attribute of romantic works. Da Vinci focus on details during the painting of Mona Lisa manifest illustrates his emphasis on individuality. While many centuries old, the painting will continue to be popular given its motivation from romanticism. Works Cited Cunningham, Lawrence, and John J. Reich. Culture & Values: A Survey of the Humanities / Lawrence S. Cunningham, John J. Reich. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print. Klein, Stefan. Leonardo's Legacy: How Da Vinci Reimagined the World. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2010. Print. Leonardo Da Vinci: Artist, Sientist, Inventor. Firenze: Giunti, 2008. Print. Read More