mona lisa smile review essays

“Mona Lisa Smile” Movie Analysis Essay

Introduction, plot summary, social issue addressed by mona lisa smile, examples of how the social issue is addressed, analysis of key moments.

Mona Lisa Smile is a film based in New England in the 1950s. The movie title references the famous art by Leonardo Da Vinci called Mona Lisa . The film is a drama about a teacher who travels to teach students in New England in a school called Wellesley. Throughout the film, there are references to social issues that affect women being addressed. The director uses art to present the way women’s role in society had been viewed in the 50s in America. Society at that time was largely patriarchal and women were seen as helpers. The main character, Katherine Watson, finds it hard to believe that women could accept to drop their ambitions in favor of getting married. Mona Lisa Smile criticizes the traditional views about women role only being mothers and wives and concludes that women have the right to make their own choices.

The setting of the movie is 1953, first in California than in New England where the school is based. Katherine applies for a job to teach art history at a school called Wellesley and is called for an interview. The school is prestigious and the students are well informed about traditional art history. Amanda, a nurse at the school for 21 years, tells Katherine that the students can be intimidating if they sense fear ( Mona Lisa Smile 5:42-5:46). The teacher realized that she had to use different methods to teach the students. Katherine centered her art class on three questions: what is art? Is art good or bad? what criteria can be used to decide these questions?

Wellesley school was more interested in ensuring that students understood their role either as a husband or a wife. Girls were taught that the only grade that matters is the one a husband gives for the performance of a wife and mother. Ironically, the teacher who taught the ladies how to poise and elocute was insecure and lonely. Ultimately, the ladies realized what Katherine was teaching them and finally started making their own choices. In the end, Katherine is surprised by the impact she had on the women in her class.

The film addresses the issue of women’s role in society. In the 1950s many people believed that women’s position was as mothers and wives. Society at that time was patriarchal and the director of the movie wanted to illustrate how most the women were forced to stop their careers and get married (Fatmawati). In the first 20 minutes of the movie the director presented the way different characters think. One of the students, Betty, was wealthy and was interested in following her mother’s conservative views about life. Her mother was a board member in the Wellesley school and had always taught her daughter to work hard and then find a wealthy husband. The girls at the school are taught foreign languages for them to be ready to host perfect dinner parties for their beau boss. The ladies are also taught how to poise and speak correctly when hosting dinner parties. Therefore, the main aim is to prepare the women for marriage and the men for work and further education.

The role of women in our society has always generated interest from various areas. Currently, women’s rights have become more advanced with many organizations pushing for equality. The way women are viewed at home has also changed as compared to in the past. Katherine tried to help the girls avoid making the mistake of failing to pursue their dreams. She talked with Joan, a bright student who had always wanted to pursue law and become a high-profile lawyer. However, she is disappointed when she learned that Joan had secretly been married and moved to Philadelphia. What frustrates her more is that Joan had to stay at home while her husband went off to graduate school. This meant that Joan would lose precious time that would have been used to further her education. The girls became consumed by the traditions imposed on them when growing up which prevents them from questioning why they are forced to follow the traditions. Through Katherine, the ladies learn of a different way of living life which leaves a lasting impact on them.

The need to have free will when making decisions in life has always been at the center of the arguments to bring equality. Women should not exist as though they depend on other people to make decisions. The 1950s was a period where the conservative ideas about society, in general, had taken root. Some of the women who desired to live a different life got criticism from their families and were forced to adhere to the traditional societal ideals (Kyle 227). In the movie, an argument ensues when Giselle tells Betty how she admires the way Katherine encouraged students to be independent. Betty was of a different view as she believed more in the conservative ideals imposed by the school.

One of the examples is when Katherine was getting to know the students and met Joan who was one of the smartest in the class. The meeting surprised Katherine because she realized that Joan intended to finish school and get married. When she asked Joan, what happens after getting married the student replied sarcastically “…then I will be married” ( Mona Lisa Smile 30:41). This shows that for the student marriage was the main objective after school. Being smart did not provide Joan with the motivation to continue her studies because of the way she was brought up knowing that marriage was important. While addressing the need for women to make their own choices, the director also addressed the importance of education. This is because without education the students would not have been exposed to different viewpoints about life.

Another instance happened when Katherine was teaching the students using her new model of teaching. A student questioned why married students were allowed to miss classes which forced Katherine to be strict with Joan. The missing class due to being married appeared a normal thing because of the conservative nature of the school. Joan threatened the teacher since she knew her mother was on the board and she would not be expelled. For Katherine, this situation presented an opportunity to ask for more support from the top management. However, she was told that change happens slowly which infuriated her. The director wanted to show the effects of early marriages on women’s ability to make better choices.

The other instance is when Betty got married but after some time the marriage fell apart. When she went to her mother for help, she was told to go back to her husband. Her mother did not want to listen to what she was saying instead she wanted her to go back immediately. This part illustrates the traditional views that were held by most of the older women and men. The position of women had greatly been diminished to that of a submissive person that has no free will (Fatmawati). In showing how Betty got shunned by her mother the director wanted to illustrate how hard it was for women to get support even from their families.

The lack of support that Betty experienced may affect the way a person perceives a situation. She was lucky to have a teacher who encouraged women to be independent. As a teacher, Katherine provided the girls with the ability to rediscover themselves. They were able to understand the importance of education in their life. Katherine wanted to raise women who would go and become the leaders of tomorrow. Her quest to change the way the school viewed women’s position in society was remarkable as it helped change other people’s life. Two of the girls applied for a law degree at Yale University and succeeded which shows that they were bright. Therefore, Katherine showed how important a teacher is in the life of students.

During the opening address by the head of the school, the students are told that soon one of their major roles will be to take care of their husbands and children. The address was to welcome the students to the school and tell them what the school expects of them. The speech was also a message to the girls about what society expects of them. The school reinforced these ideals by teaching students how to act when hosting parties for their husbands’ friends. Katherine is infuriated by the message provided to the students as it is against what she believes in. The idea that women should only perform the roles of wives and mothers was demeaning. This is because the students were smart enough to venture into enterprising courses that would be fulfilling. Some of the students, for example, Betty and Giselle, had a dream to enroll at Yale University.

Another key moment is when Katherine convinced Joan to apply to Yale University because of her interest in law school. She had already enrolled in pre-law which made the teacher aware of her interest. After the conversation with the teacher, Joan applied to Yale University and was accepted. However, she changed her mind and decided to get married to her fiancée, Tom Donegal. When the teacher got wind of the news, she became frustrated and angry that Joan had made that choice. Joan told the teacher that being a wife did not make her any less intelligent. Parents’ influence on children is strong because students follow what they learn and see (Morin 165). The decision to become a wife conformed to what the school wanted but was against what their teacher taught them. For the teacher, it was better to continue studies and venture into careers that they prefer. This part also indicates the role of the teacher in shaping the decisions of the students in a positive way (Kupfer 95). However, some of the students are influenced by their parents to adopt more conservative ideals that limit their independence.

When the school invited Katherine to continue teaching the school, it indicates how popular her class had become. It also showed the school had realized the importance of educating students to make informed choices and not putting limitations on their development. Betty, who had also chosen to get married, found Katherine as the only one who cared to listen and help her when her marriage got rocky. Eventually, she decides to divorce her husband and move to Yale university to start a law degree. She had decided to live a life of her own without worrying about what society thought. This was an indicator of how the influence of a teacher can help change the way people think and act. The teacher was able to have a profound influence on the students.

In conclusion, Mona Lisa Smile focuses on how women were viewed in society during the 1950s. The film portrays the Wellesley school as a conservative place where the women are taught how to be mothers and wives. They learn the right way to speak and pose at dinner parties. The main character, Katherine, tries to change this culture by teaching the students that there is a possibility of being independent by pursuing a career. Several of the students had an interest in going for further studies. Joan wanted to be a lawyer but chooses to get married instead. The action by Joan and Betty made Katherine angry because she thought they were serious about enrolling in further studies. In the end, the students realized the importance of education and their role as women in society. They learned that women can also make their own choices without conforming to what society tells them.

Fatmawati, Septi. Feminity of the 1950s on the movie Mona Lisa smile. Diss. Universitas Negeri Malang, 2018.

Kupfer, Joseph H. “Classroom Creativity: Pedagogical Adaptability in Film.” Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice 20.1 (2020): 94-98

Kyle, Killian. “Mona Lisa Smile, Wit, and Teacher’s Pet: Three Depictions of Female Academics.” Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 29.4 (2017): 226-228.

Mona Lisa Smile . Directed by Mike Newell, performance by Julia Roberts, music by Rachel Portman, Sony Pictures, 2003

Morin, Céline. “Nuclear families and radical feminism in 2000’s American TV series.” International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics 15.2 (2019): 163-174.

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I find it hard to believe that Wellesley College was as reactionary in the autumn of 1953 as "Mona Lisa Smile" says it is -- but then I wasn't there. Neither were the screenwriters, who reportedly based their screenplay on Hillary Clinton's experience at Wellesley in the early 1960s. The film shows a school which teaches, above all, that a woman's duty is to stand by her man, and if Clinton learned that, she also learned a good deal more. No doubt she had a teacher as inspiring as Katherine Watson ( Julia Roberts ), who trades in the bohemian freedom of Berkeley for a crack at Wellesley's future corporate wives.

This is the kind of school which actually offers classes in deportment, grooming and table setting, and the teacher of those classes, Nancy Abbey ( Marcia Gay Harden ) takes them so seriously that we begin to understand the system that produced Cathy Whitaker, Julianne Moore's showpiece wife in last year's "Far From Heaven." Watson finds her students scornful of her California background (every students makes it a point to be able to identify every slide of every painting in her first lecture), but she counterattacks with a blast of modern art, and there is a scene where she takes them to watch the uncrating of a new work by Jackson Pollock.

Of course the board of trustees is suspicious of Katherine Watson, modern art and everything else that is potentially "subversive," and resistance among the undergraduates is led by Betty ( Kirsten Dunst ), whose mother is a trustee, whose plans include marrying an upward-bound but morally shifty Harvard man, and whose editorials in the school paper suggest Watson is leading her girls in the direction of communism and, worse, promiscuity. (A school nurse who gives advice on contraception has to leave her job.)

We are pretty sure what the story parabola of "Mona Lisa Smile" will be (the inspiring teacher will overcome adversity to enlighten and guide), but the movie is more observant and thoughtful than we expect. It doesn't just grind out the formula, but seems more like the record of an actual school year than about the needs of the plot. In the delicate dance of audience identification, we get to be both the teacher and her students -- to imagine ourselves as a free spirit in a closed system, and as a student whose life is forever changed by her.

But, you're wondering, how can I identify with a 30ish teacher and her 20ish female students? Don't you find yourself identifying with just about anybody on the screen, if the movie is really working? Katherine Watson is smart and brave and stands by her beliefs, and so of course she reminds us of ourselves.

Julia Roberts is above all an actress with a winning way; we like her, feel protective toward her, want her to prevail. In "Mona Lisa Smile," she is the conduit for the plot, which flows through her character. The major supporting roles are played by luminaries of the first post-Julia generation, including not only Dunst, but Julia Stiles as Joan Brandwyn, a girl smart enough to be accepted by Yale Law but perhaps not smart enough to choose it over marriage; Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy, who is sexually advanced and has even, it is said, slept with the studly young Italian professor, and Ginnifer Goodwin as Constance Baker, who is too concerned about her looks.

"A few years from now," the Wellesley students are solemnly informed, "your sole responsibility will be taking care of your husband and children." This is not a priority Watson can agree with. She tells the competent but conservative school president ( Marian Seldes ), "I thought I was headed to a place that would turn out tomorrow's leaders -- not their wives." Unlike the typical heroes of movies about inspiring teachers, however, she doesn't think the answer lies in exuberance, freedom and letting it all hang out, but in actually studying and doing the work, and she despairs when competent students throw away their futures (as she sees it) for marriage to men who have already started to cheat before their wedding days.

Watson herself has a fairly lively love life, with a boyfriend in California ( John Slattery ) and now a warmth for the abovementioned studly Italian teacher ( Dominic West ), although it is probably not true, as a student rumor has it, that she had to come east because of a torrid affair with William Holden . The movie is not really about her romances at all, but about her function as a teacher and her determination to install feminism on the campus before that noun was widely in use. The movie, directed by Mike Newell , may be a little too aware of its sexual politics and might have been more absorbing if Katherine and her students were fighting their way together out of the chains of gender slavery. But the characters involve us, we sympathize with their dreams and despair of their matrimonial tunnel vision, and at the end we are relieved that we listened to Miss Watson and became the wonderful people who we are today.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and thematic issues

117 minutes

Julia Stiles as Joan Brandwyn

Julia Roberts as Katherine Watson

Kirsten Dunst as Betty Warren

Ginnifer Goodwin as Constance Baker

Juliet Stevenson as Amanda

Marcia Gay Harden as Nancy Abbey

Dominic West as Bill Dunbar

John Slattery as Paul Moore

Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy

Directed by

• Mike Newell
• Lawrence Konner
• Mark Rosenthal

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Mona Lisa Smile Review – An Inspiring And Beautiful Story

Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, and Julia Stiles starred in this underrated 2003 period drama.

Mona Lisa Smile Review, Summary, and Cast: 

Mona Lisa Smile  is a positive, thoughtful film about the importance of education and a woman’s right to choose her own future.

It’s an intelligent historical drama set at Wellesley College in the early 1950s that tells a familiar story about young women in a new and inspiring way.

MONA LISA SMILE  SUMMARY

Official Description : 

Academy Award®-winner Julia Roberts (Best Actress in a Leading Role, Erin Brockovich, 2000) leads an all-star cast featuring Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Marcia Gay Harden. MONA LISA SMILE is a funny, inspiring and uplifting film about an art history professor with a lot to teach about life and much to learn about romance.

Katherine Watson accepts a post teaching Art History at the very conservative Wellesley Women’s College.

Appalled to find that even her most gifted pupil, Joan Brandwyn (Stiles), believes she is only biding time until marriage, the free spirit Miss Watson sets out to challenge tradition and open up a new way of thinking for her students.

Her teaching methods introduce modern ideas into the heart of every girl in this underrated period drama.

THE CAST OF  MONA LISA SMILE

The  Mona Lisa Smile  cast is its main strength. Julia Roberts as the main character, Katherine Ann Watson, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy, Julia Stiles as Brandwyn, Kirsten Dunst as Betty Warren, Dominic West as Bill Dunbar, Juliet Stevenson as Amanda Armstrong, John Slattery as Paul Moore, Marcia Gay Harden as Nancy Abbey, Topher Grace as Tommy Donegal, Marian Seldes as President Jocelyn Carr, and Ginnifer Goodwin as Connie Baker.

Related Content: 100+ Best Period Dramas on HBO Max to Watch

All share the screen along with many other familiar faces. Everyone is superb, with special commendation to Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Roberts, and Kirsten Dunst, who all give compelling performances as the  Mona Lisa Smile  characters.

Marcia Gay Harden is excellent as well portraying a tragic yet ridiculous example of where relying on societal expectations can land you.

MONA LISA SMILE  ANALYSIS & REVIEW

The film itself is visually pleasing and is shot beautifully with great attention to detail. The costumes, sets, and props are well chosen, really putting you in the period. Portions of the film were even filmed at the real Wellesley. 

Mona Lisa Smile  can also be quite moving at times with some powerful moments. For example, when Julia Roberts’ character, Katherine, gives a brutal, honest speech about how future generations will see them.

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Another example includes a particularly well-handled, emotional scene that takes place between Betty (Kirsten Dunst) and Giselle (Maggie Gyllenhaal), ending in a surprising and poignant way.

The ending sequence is also quite emotional. Overall, you will likely leave this film with a big smile and perhaps even a few tears.

Romance fans will appreciate that romance plays a significant role in this 1950s-set drama. There are several romances in the  Mona Lisa Smile  movie. Katherine herself has two, though given the nature of the character; they take a backseat to her vocation.

A sweet love story also develops between the good-natured Connie (Ginnifer Goodwin) and the equally adorable Tommy.

All in all, I love that  Mona Lisa Smile  is an intelligent film that does not talk down to its audience. The movie talks about feminism (although not much in the way of radical feminism) and the importance of women’s choices, even if that choice is to conform to rather than subvert societal expectations.

The film also asserts the value of women’s education and her right to use that education after graduation.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

In conclusion,  Mona Lisa Smile  is a powerful and intelligent film with a good message about gender roles (particularly the role of women) and social issues with a happy ending.

You will probably like this film if you enjoyed  Dead Poets Society  with Robin Williams. I recommend it.

Director:  Mike Newell

Screenwriters:  Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner

Content Note:   Mona Lisa Smile  is rated PG-13 for very mild sensuality. Nothing explicit. The rating is actually rather harsh.

Where To Watch (as of the update in August 2023):  MAX and Hoopla. You can also rent/buy it on Digital and DVD. 

Featured image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing

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Home — Essay Samples — Arts & Culture — Mona Lisa — Mona Lisa Smile

Mona Lisa Smile

• Categories: Film Analysis Mona Lisa Movie Review

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Words: 1153 |

Published: Jun 6, 2019

Words: 1153 | Pages: 3 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, depiction and elaboration of mona lisa grin, investigation of mona lisa grin regarding social establishments of instruction, works cited.

• Collins, R. (1979). The Credential Society: An Historical Sociology of Education and Stratification. Academic Press.
• Durkheim, E. (1956). Education and Sociology. Free Press.
• Macionis, J. J., & Plummer, K. (2012). Sociology: A Global Introduction. Pearson.
• Marx, K., & Engels, F. (2002). The Marx-Engels Reader. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Mills, C. W. (2000). The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press.
• Parsons, T. (1959). The School Class as a Social System: Some of Its Functions in American Society. Harvard Educational Review, 29(4), 297-318.
• Ritzer, G. (2018). Sociological Theory. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Sadovnik, A. R., & Semel, S. F. (Eds.). (2019). Sociology of Education: A Critical Reader. Routledge.
• Tischler, H. L. (2016). Introduction to Sociology. Cengage Learning.
• Turner, J. H., & Beeghley, L. (2012). Theoretical Sociology: A Concise Introduction to Twelve Sociological Theories. SAGE Publications.

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• Arts & Humanities
• Film Studies

The analysis of a "Mona Lisa Smile"

22 Jul 2022

• Arts & Humanities

Format: Other

Academic level: College

Paper type: Movie Review

Downloads: 0

Assigned Film Title: Mona Lisa Smile 

Year: 2003 

Director: Mike Newell 

Director of Photography: Anastas Michos 

Brief Plot: (Insert here a brief plot of the film). After accepting a role which she was called for (a teaching position History Art) in Wellesley College, Katherine Watson travels to a new city where she knows no one. Watson, particularly in those ages (the 1950s), she is an up-to-date woman with a passion for both her students as well as art. On her first day in class, she discovers all the students were very bright, the students answered the questions despite the fact that they had never learned history art. Despite this, their teacher Watson notices that they do not give their best since they do not attempt to reach the potential that they have to succeed in their studies. The main reason for this is that almost throughout the movie, all the students seemed to be bidding most of their time waiting to get the most appropriate man (from a good family) so they can marry (they stayed and stuck on the traditional thoughts and mores). All the same, despite the fact that there was a strong bond formed between the students and the teacher, Watson’s views compared to those of the college’s dominant culture are incompatible. 

State the main themes: Throughout the movie, a number of themes represent themselves. For Instance, there is marriage, traditions, feminism, and dualism. 

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Narrative Breakdown . The movie features a 1950s set up, as, for this reason, the choice of costume had to look like and match the exact appearance of the 1950s era. After her arrival at the Wellesley all-women conservative College as a teacher of History of Art, she quickly tries to fit in. In her first class when she was still unfamiliar with the students, she was startled with how the students were sharp and left her shocked with their way of doing things (Scene 06:25 – 10:32). Set up in the 1950s, where traditions were the order of every girl, Watson finds it hard to try and reason the same way as the administration and her students do. During the first act, there are a number of incidents which take place, the most inciting scene being where Betty shuts up Connie after she jokes about “getting one”; Betty bugs in a rude way making Connie seem inferior thus powerless and incapable (Scene 22:08-22:24). On second thought, Joan is asked by Watson which law school she might be thinking of joining whether married or not and she says Yale (33:58 – 34:30). Later on, Watson provides her with an application form to join Yale School of Law (35:45 & 35:58). The climax of act one is occasioned by Bettys’ wedding which is big attracting people from different calibers including the governor. Watson is seen as an obstacle to the traditions of her students as well as that of the school to an extent that President Carr warns her about her teaching methods which she terms as unorthodox for the school (48:33). At scene 49:46, Betty seems to be jealous of Joan’s and Tommy’s closeness despite the fact that she is married. The climax in act two is seen where Betty returns to class after marriage rudely interrupting the session and is confronted by Watson who says she missed her classes, a paper, and midterm. Betty attempts to defend herself through their traditions but Watson seems not to care about that (1:00:39). Act three begins with a climax where Watson goes to class and speaks out her mind to her students about their traditions as well as those of the school. She gets in class and everyone notices that it would not be good since the newspapers for the school as written by Betty have it that Watson is destroying their traditions and mores (1:08:15 – 1:11:53). She later confronts Carr and questions her about the girl’s ways in the school and the life they are building. But Carr defends the school citing what happened with girls many decades back. Watson gets in an intimate relationship with Bill and gets blinded that she does not heed the warning of her roommate Abbey but later realizes she should have listened to her after Stan spilled the beans about not being in Italy. Joan decides to do away with her law dreams and marries Tommy secretly, and even with attempts by Watson to try and help her find another law school in the town, she would move to with her husband she refuses. Betty’s marriage hits the wall since Spencer is always absent with other women and spends no time with her. She decides to file for a divorce and asks for help from Watson to get a new place she can live. More so, she asks for help to join Yale School of Law. Watson also refuses to stay at Wellesley College since she disagreed with the terms that were given to her if she would stay in the school. Watson lives Wellesley College on a cab and her students follow her riding on bicycles waving her goodbye. 

Goldsmith-Thomas, E. (Producer), Schindler, D. (Producer), Schiff, P. (Producer) & Newell, M. (Director). (2003). Mona Lisa Smile . [Motion Picture]. United States. Sony Pictures Entertainment. 

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Film Review Mona Lisa Smile

Essay by review   •  March 13, 2011  •  Essay  •  1,056 Words (5 Pages)  •  2,848 Views

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Mona Lisa Smile. Dir. by Mike Newell. Columbia Pictures, 2003.

In the movie, Mona Lisa Smile directed by Mike Newell, a new art history professor at Wellesley College teaches her female students alternatives to their seemingly preordained futures as wives and mothers. In this paper we will examine women's roles in the 1950's through Mona Lisa Smile and compare this film to actual experiences of Wellesley collage graduates.

In 1953, a time when women's roles were rigidly defined, free-spirited, art history professor Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) begins teaching her dream job at Wellesley College. Wellesley is an all-female campus with a prestigious reputation for academic excellence, however, despite its name it is an environment where success is measured by 'how well' the students marry. Katherine, who recently left her husband (first strike against the non-conformist), taught liberal views that were out of place in this conservative '50s college. Encouraging these women to strive for a more open-minded future, Watson challenges the administration and inspires her students to look beyond the image of what is, and consider the possibilities of what could be. Besides butting heads with college administrators who object to progressive ideas, she also pushes the conservative students who firmly believe a woman's only role is to be a wife and mother.

The girls were more interested in nabbing a good husband than achieving scholastic and intellectual growth. The main characters were; catty but well brought-up Betty (Kirsten Dunst), potential graduate student Joan (Julia Stilies), insecure Connie (Ginnifer Goodwyn) and campus slut Giselle (Maggie Gyllenhaal). All of the women in the film were defined by their relationships with men, and their happiness was dependent on their success with the opposite sex. Julie Roberts (Katherine) was an excellent choice for the role of the liberal teacher. She had the needed depth and dimension required for the role. Her seaming guarded attitude allowed her role to be tough enough to resist the girls and the faculty. I personally do not like Dunst (Betty) as an actress but that just made her manipulative "rich bitch" role even more believable. She is intent on making everyone around her feel unworthy and the viewer spends most of the movie hating her spoon-fed beliefs, until the end when the character earns empathy from the audience after she reveals her hardships with her husband and mother. Stiles' character Joan does the most growing in the film as she opens up to the possibility that she does not have to follow her sweetheart and could focus on her own education. Goodwyn's character Connie played an 'add-drama' role to the movie. The viewer never disliked her but never really liked her. The most liberal of the girls is Giselle, played by Gyllenhaal, who plays the role of the campus slut. I am not sure the purpose of this women bashing role, it just made the movie "dirty". Giselle's affinity for sleeping with professors and married men is so revolting that not even in the end was her character salvaged, but she did play the part well.

The film's title, of course, is a reference to the Mona Lisa, the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. One of the songs chosen was of the same name, originally performed by Nat King Cole, which was preformed by Seal for the movie. The music chosen for Mona Lisa Smile added inspiration and increased the mood each desired scene.

Wellesley was portrayed as the most conservative and the fanciest college around. The students' dorms were very elaborate with nice furniture and linens trying to impact the ritzy feel for the wealthy privileged collage girls. In reality, what made Wellesley distinctive among women's colleges were founding features that were still alive in the 1950s: the prominence of women in powerful positions on the faculty and in the administration, a Christian orientation and the tradition of welcoming less affluent

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In Mona Lisa Smile, Julia Roberts leads an all-star cast of prominent young actresses including Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal and newcomer Ginnifer Goodwin, in a story of women struggling to define themselves in a world that has already defined them. Katherine Watson (Roberts) travels from California to the New England campus of Wellesley College, in the fall of 1953, to teach art history. In the post-war era, Katherine expects that her students, the best and the brightest in the arrival, however, Katherine discovers that the environment at the prestigious institution is steeped in conformity.

According to their poise and elocution, teacher Nancy Abbey (Marcia Gay Harden), an engagement ring on a young woman's finger is considered a bigger prize than a well-rounded education. When Katherine encourages her students to think independently, she runs afoul of the more conservative faculty and alumni, including one of her students, the upper crust Betty Warren (Dunst). The recently married, Betty becomes a formidable adversary when Katherine persuades her best friend, Joan Brandwyn (Stiles), to apply to Yale Law School - even as Joan is awaiting a proposal of marriage from her boyfriend.For the smart and provocative Giselle Levy (Gyllenhaal), Katherine becomes a much- needed role model and mentor.

The sweet and shy Connie Baker (Goodwin) also draws courage from Katherine's example and gains the confidence to break through her insecurities. In a world that told them how to live, Katherine teaches them how to think for themselves. Through her students' trials to find their own way, Katherine learns to chart a different course for herself as well.Review Of The Movie World War II had been the first time in history when women were told they could do a man's Job. They took off their corsets and took over the factories.

Then, after the war, they were re-corseted with clear roles as housewives who supported their husbands and raised their children. On the surface it all seemed fine, but underneath the seeds were planted for the next generation. Mona Lisa Smile is an exploration of a time and place, after the war, where rebellion and individuality were very much frowned upon, yet the seeds of change had already taken root.The protagonist of the motion picture, Katherine Watson (played by Julia Roberts), is shown to be one of the most brawny, independent and liberal thinkers of er time. Settled in a time frame, where marriage was the whole and soul purpose of the existence of a woman, Katherine is seen to break those bonds and live on her own terms. She, Just like any another girl, was also engaged to marry at the age of 18.

However, after Pearl Harbor, she and her fianc© realized that both of them had changed for good and called it quits, after which, Katherine went to L.A for graduation, and turned out to be an art history professor. She embodied the best kind of spirit for a teacher, one that allows individuality and exploration of our personal strengths. Though her students at first, regard her a spinster for being over the age of 30 and unmarried, Katherine feels comfortable with her decision which some of the young women find intimidating and others, empowering.

The daughter of a Wellesley alumna who is as involved in the college as she is in her daughter's life, Betty, regards Katherine's challenge to the status quo almost as a personal affront.In the very beginning of the movie we see Betty being Just horrible and condescending to everyone around her. Later, in the movie, you come across her mother, a formidable and intimidating woman, and you see why Betty turned out that owever, her cold exterior quickly thaws. All her life has been shaped by her mother and she believes that once she gets married everything will be perfect.

But she doesn't love her husband and neither does he love her. It's Just a planned affair. She pretends to be happy and puts on a smile. Finally, you see her break down.Ultimately, it's Katherine who gives her the courage to be herself and fight her personal vendetta. That's essentially what the movie is about, being true to yourself and becoming the person you want to be.

Betty's Journey is her inner battle between image and truth. She fights Katherine's lessons and her presence at first only because, if Katherine is right, then her life is a sham. While she hails from the same social background as Betty, her roommate and class valedictorian Joan Brandwyn has a completely different reaction to intellectual challenges presented by her art history teacher.Like the other girls at Wellesley she knows how to recite and regurgitate information. She's a great student, but she's a textbook great student.

Then Katherine comes along and tells her to think for herself and that's really seductive to Joan. She is about to be engaged, but with Katherine's ncouragement, she decides to apply to law school anyway. Joan is the woman, Katherine decides, who has the most potential for change, so she devotes her energies to making sure that Joan recognizes that she has a choice. Once Joan chooses, Katherine needs to learn to respect her choice.

Giselle Levy is a sophisticated student who shocks her fellow students by having numerous affairs at a time when such behavior was considered scandalous. When Katherine comes to teach at Wellesley, Giselle is fascinated. She has been desperate for some kind of validation for her unorthodox feelings and here is Katherine who cknowledges her difference and says it's okay. Giselle's essential problem is not her behavior, but the Judgment that's placed on it by her peers and society at large. Giselle is pretty in-your-face and she doesn't know why everybody is making such a big fuss that she sleeps with more than one man.

All she's saying is that you should eat food if it tastes good, dance if you like the beat and have sex if you want to have sex. Now, some people might say Giselle's broken or unhappy, or that she's overcompensating for something, but I tried not to Judge her while watching the movie. Though she has many advantages in life, Connie is plagued by insecurities. She thinks she doesnt have beauty, or talent, or smarts.

All she's got are these other girls, and that is so important to her that she allows herself to be their punching bag.Yet, Connie possesses strong attributes, like her appreciation for the possibilities of love as well as her talent at playing the cello. The cello is Connie's form of expression, the only form of beauty she's ever been able to associate herself with. Through Katherine, Connie gains confidence and opens herself up, for the first time, to the ossibility of romance. Suddenly love becomes an option for her and not Just a dream.

And that sort of power enables her to put herself first for once. Like the other girls, she undergoes a real change.Connie realizes she doesn't have to go out and Nancy Abbey teaches speech, elocution and poise at Wellesley. Nancy is trying very hard to be representative of what she thinks a woman should be, which is 'simply lovely.

' There is a gentleness and grace about her manners and it's a shame we've lost that sense of poise. But Nancy also has a turbulent underbelly caused by the repression of the times. It's poignant that Nancy chooses to remain at home, a spinster, because society's Judgment about her age makes her feel it's too late for her to go out and risk something different.Mona Lisa Smile is a real mirror of the period and a tribute to the Wellesley women who were the pioneers in terms of going out and forging paths and shoving their way into businesses that didn't want them.

They were the generation who went out into the world and made a change. Throughout the movie, Katherine tries her best to empower women around her and to break the bonds that bind these intellectuals. The movie follows the Journey of change in every individual and talks about the struggle of the individual - male or female.Everyone is looking to find their proper place in life, where they can serve the most and be at their best. The movie doesn't tell us what to think or it doesn't distinguish right from wrong; instead, it paints a depiction of both sides of the story and states you can do both - have a career of your choice and get married - albeit doing it a little unsubtle at times. One of the things you realize while watching the movie is the sensitivity depicted in it.

By the end of the ovie, you realize that success may not mean the same thing to other people as it does to you.For a few, having a family, being able to manage your household and having dinner ready by 5 is a huge success; while for others, success could mean turning out as lawyers, doctors, etc. We realize that as Catherine tenaciously went about her business making a difference in the lives of her students and the people around her, she made a difference in her own life Just as well. Her Journey as a teacher was a part of her formation.

We cannot 'make a difference' in the lives of others without impacting our own.There is an ongoing dialectic that propels us into action for others, but it undoubtedly is action for ourselves as well. It is only in the end of the movie, that we realize that Catherine herself lives in the confines of her own biases and disregards. That is what changes about her ultimately and she makes peace with the traditionalists around her and accepts that some women will always be happier in families rather than in themselves, but also paves the path for women who wanted so much more than a family. Throughout the movie you see brilliant 1950 based sets, cathedrals and brilliant locations.

The cinematography of this movie is quite fine as its simplicity is its brilliance as is the background score. The original work of Rachel Portman is outstanding as the theme of Mona Lisa Smile is quite addictive. The cast, crew and director, according to me, have done a splendid Job with this motion picture. Though this movie has been thoroughly criticized and been compared to the old movie, the deadly poets, I am still very much of the opinion that this movie is one of its kind. It is a movie that truly moved me and which made me appreciate the fact that I was born then as a daughter, mother, wife, etc.

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Analysis of Movie “Mona Lisa Smile”

Mona Lisa Smile The movie “Mona Lisa Smile” is set in the 1950s and deals with the starting feminist’s movement against traditional roles. The main character, “History of Art” teacher Katherine Watson, arrives at the conservative all-women college of Wellesley and tries to teach her really smart students not only art history but also independence. She also wants her students to know that their aim, namely getting married, does not have to be their only purpose of life, but that it is also possible to be married and have a job. In the following I will compare the attitudes towards the role of women of three female characters from the movie.

I will also take developments of their attitude during the movie into consideration. I want to start with a very forward thinking woman, Amanda Armstrong. She is the school nurse and lives together with Katherine Watson and Nancy Abbey. Although it is forbidden, she distributes contraception within the students of Wellesley. As it turns out during the movie, she is lesbian and had a relationship with a deceased teacher of Wellesley. She gets fired when the student Betty Warren writes an article about her in which Betty reveals Amanda’s illegal distribution of contraception.

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Amanda is a very independent and liberal woman who gets punished for being a forward thinker. She gives contraception to the girls because she wants them to get the freedom of making their own decisions. With the contraception they can decide if they want to have a baby or if they just want to have fun. The fact that some girls accept Amanda’s offer shows that she is not the only one who wants to change something. Amanda Armstrong’s biggest opponent is Betty Warren, a young and smart student who follows the traditional way she should follow. She does not like Katherine Watson’s way of teaching and thinking.

Because of that, she writes not only an article about Amanda but also a very critical one about Katherine. She can not wait to marry her fiance Spencer and is at first very happy about her marriage. Also, she can not understand why Katherine is not married because for her it belongs to the etiquette for a woman to be married. After her wedding she missed many classes and gets in a conflict with Katherine over that. Betty’s marriage turns out not to be as happy as everybody thought. Another student, Giselle Levy, sees Betty’s husband in New York with another woman.

Betty admits that she suspected such a thing but refuses to get divorced from Spencer at first. Her mother tells her that Betty should have known before the wedding that something like that would happen and forces her daughter to remain married to avoid a scandal. I think, of all characters, Betty Warren changes the most. At graduation day she tells Katherine and her mother that she gets divorced from Spencer and moves with her friend and fellow student Giselle Levy to Greenwich. She turns away from the traditions she was raised with and focuses on her own independence.

At the end of the movie she is the one who follows Katherine’s taxi the longest time and thanks her for helping her to change her life. She also dedicates her last article to her teacher and calls Katherine “an extraordinary woman”. Another important character is Joan Brandwyn. She is also a student of Katherine’s art history class. During the film she has a big decision to make. She gets accepted at Yale Law-School and has to choose between getting married or becoming a lawyer. Katherine tries to convince her that both things are possible to do at the same time.

Joan gets married to her boyfriend Tommy and so, she prefers to be married and to raise children and not to go to Law-School although her husband would have supported her. Katherine can not accept her decision at first, but when Joan tells her that she is happy with what she chose and that she truly wants a family, Katherine accepts her choice and wishes her luck. For me, these three characters show the different positions of women in these times in the best way. Amanda as the “revolutionary” type of woman and Betty Warren as her opponent who changes from a traditional woman, who does what society expects her to do, to an independent woman.

Joan is between these two positions. She knows what people expect her to do, but although she thinks about other perspectives. She chose family and not job and family, because she does not want to miss seeing her children growing up. Joan really thinks about the possibilities she has and makes a comprehensible decision. But also Joan changes during the movie. In the beginning she would not even have considered the possibility of getting a lawyer. So, Katherine Watson changed her life, too, but not as seriously as Betty’s. Benita Freeborn, 24th June 2012

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An Analysis Of The Enigmatic Smile – Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is one of history’s most iconic and mysterious works. Painted by Leonardo da Vinci, it has been analyzed for centuries to uncover its hidden meaning. The enigmatic smile that graces her lips is believed to hold a secret that may never be unlocked. This article will analyze the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile to understand why it has captivated so many for so long.

The painting was created between 1503 and 1517 and hangs in Paris’ Louvre Museum; this makes it difficult to access and study up close. However, using various methods such as X-ray analysis, infrared reflectography, and multispectral imaging, researchers have gained insight into what lies beneath the surface of the painting. Through these techniques, they can examine details not visible to the naked eye and identify any changes Leonardo himself or other later restorers made over time.

We can unravel some of its secrets by analyzing the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile. We can explore how different interpretations throughout history have shaped our current perception of it and discuss how modern technology has allowed us unprecedented access to understanding this famous work of art.

The Origin Of The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is one of the world’s most famous paintings, and its enigmatic smile has been the subject of much debate. Its origin dates back to the early 16th century in Florence, Italy. The painting was commissioned by Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy silk merchant, for his wife Lisa Gherardini as an anniversary gift; hence why it’s known today as ‘Mona Lisa’ (or ‘My Lady Lisa’ in Italian).

Leonardo da Vinci began working on the portrait sometime between 1503 and 1506 and completed it shortly before his death in 1519. He used oil paints on poplar wood panels, allowing him to capture intricate details with great precision. It is believed that he worked on the painting intermittently over several years due to other projects he had undertaken at the time.

Since then, art historians have offered countless interpretations of her mysterious expression over the centuries. Some suggest that she may be smiling out of contentment; in contrast, others interpret it as a knowing smirk – whatever meaning lies behind this iconic portrait remains unknown even five hundred years later. A close examination reveals Leonardo da Vinci’s mastery through subtle nuances such as shadows around her eyes or faint wrinkles across her forehead – all contributing to making the Mona Lisa one of the greatest works of art ever created.

The Context Of The Painting

The Mona Lisa, an iconic painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous works in art history. Its enigmatic smile has been a source of fascination and speculation since its creation in 1503-1517. It is worth examining the context behind the painting to understand this mysterious expression.

First and foremost, it should be noted that at the time of its completion, the painting was revolutionary for its novel use of the sfumato technique—the subtle blending together of shadows and highlights to create soft transitions between light and dark areas. This allowed Leonardo to capture a sense of three dimensions on a two-dimensional canvas and convey emotion through facial expressions without relying too heavily upon realism or idealism. The result was a portrait with an almost ethereal quality that seemingly evoked both joy and sadness simultaneously.

Additionally, other contextual elements could have influenced the look on Mona Lisa’s face. For example, some believe that her gaze may represent how women were expected to behave during 16th century Italy: demure but confident, modest yet independent, quiet but strong-willed. Others suggest that she may be looking off into the distance because she yearns for something more than what life offers her in her current circumstances or perhaps due to longing for someone who isn’t in her life anymore. No matter which interpretation is correct (or even if all are partially valid), it cannot be denied that these potential interpretations add another layer of intrigue around why exactly Mona Lisa appears so enigmatic when viewed today.

In sum, while we may never know precisely what motivated Da Vinci’s brushstrokes when he crafted his masterpiece nearly 500 years ago, it can indeed be said that understanding the historical context surrounding him helps us gain insight into why this work remains so captivating today.

The Meaning Of The Mysterious Smile

The Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile has captivated audiences for centuries, with interpretations ranging from a simple gesture to a hidden meaning. Much mystery and awe surround this painting, leaving one wondering what secrets lie within the seemingly inexpressive face. This third section will explore possible explanations behind the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa.

One popular opinion is that Da Vinci’s use of sfumato intentionally created an ambiguous expression on her face, rendering it impossible to interpret precisely what emotion she might be conveying. Sfumato is a technique that creates soft transitions between colors and shades, allowing light and shadow to blend subtly. It may have been intended by Da Vinci as part of his genius artistic style, adding depth and complexity to his works while inviting viewers to search for their interpretation of its subject matter.

Another idea suggests that the smile reflects subtle hints at Leonardo’s thoughts or emotions he wished to share through his artistry. Perhaps it could represent joy or contentment due to his success as an artist; alternatively, some believe it symbolizes sadness due to unrequited love or a longing for something unattainable. Additionally, some theories suggest the slight smirk can be seen as slyly indicating knowledge about certain aspects of life that we cannot access ourselves—a knowingness beyond our comprehension.

These various opinions provide insight into how individuals perceive this well-known portrait, yet no single perspective thoroughly explains its enigma. The many different interpretations demonstrate just how complex and challenging it is to decipher such a singular facial expression despite all its fame and recognition throughout history.

The Impact Of The Mona Lisa On Art And Culture

The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa has been iconic throughout history. Indeed, it is one of the most well-known images in art and culture. This section will discuss the impact this painting has had since its creation regarding art and culture.

Firstly, many artists have taken inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpieces over time. Due to the intriguing nature of her facial expression, a variety of works by other painters reflect similar elements as seen in the Mona Lisa, such as soft brush strokes or subtle shadows around the eyes. In addition, some modern interpretations feature different colors and materials than those traditionally used for portraiture paintings. As such, these pieces demonstrate how adapting an existing artwork can lead to new creative possibilities.

Secondly, beyond visual arts, various mediums often reference the Mona Lisa to convey specific messages about more significant cultural trends. For example, there have been numerous satirical takes on her image that allude to current events or broader societal issues while maintaining a recognizable likeness to Leonardo da Vinci’s original work. Additionally, she is frequently featured in popular media such as film and television shows, where her unreadable expression serves as a symbol for ambiguity or mystery within narrative storylines.

Given its widespread renown, it is clear that the Mona Lisa has left an indelible mark on art and culture alike. Her mysterious smile continues to captivate audiences even hundreds of years after it was first created, inspiring generations of creatives with each passing day.

The Influence Of The Mona Lisa’s Smile

The Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile has been a source of intrigue since Leonardo da Vinci painted it in 1503. Its mysterious nature has led to numerous interpretations and theories about its meaning and influence on art and culture. This essay will explore how the Mona Lisa’s smile has impacted our understanding of portraiture and art history.

One way the Mona Lisa’s smile has played an important role is that it challenges traditional conventions associated with painting at the time of its creation. The artist used techniques such as sfumato – where tones gradually blend – to create an ambiguous expression on her face. In doing so, he veered away from more formalized styles seen in other works during this period, instead opting for a more naturalistic approach to portrait painting. As a result, da Vinci ushered in a new era of realism within the artistic medium that continues today.

Furthermore, looking beyond the scope of the painting itself, academics have argued that the Mona Lisa’s smile also offers insight into broader cultural trends occurring at this time. For example, many believe that da Vinci intended his work to reflect changes within Renaissance society, specifically, a shift from religious values to humanist ideals emphasizing individualism and self-expression. By depicting her with a subtle facial expression rather than one conveying emotion or sentimentality, scholars argue that da Vinci sought to portray these changing social attitudes through his artwork.

Considering all of this evidence then, it is clear just how powerful an effect da Vinci’s masterpiece had upon both painting and broader culture when it was first created over five hundred years ago. While there may be no definitive answer to why she smiles so mysteriously, it can be said that her iconic facial expression still resonates deeply with audiences around the world today due to its ability to capture complex emotions while simultaneously challenging societal norms surrounding beauty and identity.

The Artistic Techniques Used To Create The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa, arguably one of the most famous paintings in art history, is renowned for its enigmatic smile. Its creator and date of origin remain unclear; however, various artistic techniques were used to create this masterpiece that still captivates viewers centuries later.

The painting’s distinct qualities result from Leonardo da Vinci’s sfumato technique. Sfumato gives an atmospheric quality to the portrait by blending colors without sharp lines or edges. This blurring effect creates shadows which provide depth and perspective to the image. Furthermore, with his use of chiaroscuro, Da Vinci created a three-dimensional figure from what was initially thought to be a two-dimensional surface. The soft light on the subject’s face has been compared to sun rays breaking through clouds, creating a realistic yet ethereal atmosphere around the woman.

Additionally, details such as her eyes appear almost alive due to Da Vinci’s innovative use of aerial perspective, where he uses warmer tones and heavier brushstrokes closer up and cooler tones further away. This technique also adds dimensionality by making near objects more precise than far ones, thus giving life to the woman’s gaze and expression while providing visual interest within the composition itself. By combining these different artistic techniques into one artwork, Da Vinci achieved unparalleled realism that often appears more modern than Renaissance-era works.

In sum, it can be concluded that various artistic techniques were utilized to create a timeless masterpiece like the Mona Lisa. Such innovations not only brought unprecedented realism but also made way for future artists wishing to capture subtle movements within their work – something that would not have been possible before the thematic elements in this painting came about.

The Scientific Analysis Of The Mona Lisa’s Smile

The Mona Lisa is one of the most iconic works of art in history, and her enigmatic smile has been the subject of much debate. To better understand the painting’s meaning, it is essential to conduct a scientific analysis of the artwork itself. This includes examining the artistic techniques used by Leonardo da Vinci when creating this masterpiece.

Several noticeable features stand out when looking at the technical aspects of the painting. The eyes are painted with a light brown color, giving them an almost lifelike appearance; they appear to follow viewers around the room as they move. Additionally, da Vinci employed sfumato – a technique where tones blend softly into each other – throughout his work on the Mona Lisa’s face, giving it a mysterious character that may be responsible for its captivating nature.

Furthermore, recent research using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) technology seeks to uncover further details about what lies beneath these brushstrokes. By manipulating different light sources across an image surface, RTI allows researchers to highlight variations in texture and tone, which can help us identify specific elements within an artwork that we would not have seen otherwise. For instance, when applied to the Mona Lisa’s mouth area, scientists discovered faint traces of red paint, which could hint at how da Vinci created such a subtle yet complex expression on his subject’s face.

This study helps us understand more about this remarkable piece and perhaps even unlock some hidden secrets behind her enigmatic smile. Through careful examination and modern technological advancements, researchers continue to progress in discovering more about da Vinci’s genius creation and bringing us closer to finding answers about its true significance over five hundred years after it was first produced.

The Different Interpretations Of The Mona Lisa’s Smile

The enigmatic Mona Lisa’s smile has been interpreted in various ways, from a sign of joy to an expression of sorrow. This section will explore the different interpretations art historians and scholars have offered.

Art historian Kenneth Clark believed that Leonardo da Vinci intended for her to smile with ‘amused contempt’ towards anyone who looked at her painting. He argued that such a subtle facial expression could only be captured in this way due to the genius of da Vinci. Others say she is showing sadness or loneliness as if she feels isolated from society, which was common among women during the Renaissance period.

Further interpretations suggest that Mona Lisa’s smile can represent one’s inner struggle between opposites – happiness and sadness, youthfulness and age, life and death – all within the same person. Her enigmatic nature may reflect our feelings, suggesting both contentment and dissatisfaction co-exist. Therefore, no matter what interpretation we choose to believe, it ultimately remains up to each viewer to decide on their understanding of the Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile.

Analysis suggests that while some viewers see a faint suggestion of irony or sarcasm in the figure’s face, others find evidence of serenity or satisfaction. Moreover, opinions vary depending on whether one is looking closely or standing several feet away from the painting: features might appear differently when viewed from varying distances. Ultimately, interpreting the meaning behind Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile remains subjective rather than objective.

The Historical Significance Of The Mona Lisa

Since the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece painting ‘Mona Lisa’ has been a source of intrigue and fascination for many. The Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile has been interpreted in various ways over the years and is often seen as an indicator of its historical significance. This article will explore the historical importance of the Mona Lisa in detail.

The painting was commissioned by Francesco del Giocondo (also known as ‘Lisa Gherardini’) from Florence, Italy, during 1503–1506 and was initially called La Gioconda. It gained fame when King Francis I of France acquired it after being stolen from da Vinci in 1516. From then on, it became a prized possession amongst French royalty and subsequently increased its popularity among European art admirers. In 1815, the painting was returned to Italy, where it now resides at The Louvre Museum in Paris.

Over time, there have been several theories surrounding Mona Lisa’s identity, including her being either da Vinci himself or his mother, Caterina, with whom he had a close relationship during childhood. While this remains largely speculation, what can be said for sure is that she represents something more than just another portrait – she stands as an embodiment of beauty, mystery, and femininity, making her one of the most recognizable paintings in history.

In addition to representing artistry through its unique use of perspective, lighting, and color composition, Mona Lisa also serves as an icon for Italian culture worldwide due to its association with Florence’s cultural heritage. Through her mysterious expression, this timeless classic continues to captivate audiences even centuries later, showing no signs of waning interest anytime soon.

The Continuing Relevance Of The Mona Lisa In Modern Culture

The Mona Lisa, an iconic figure in art history and pop culture, remains relevant today. The enigmatic smile of the painting has inspired a multitude of interpretations throughout its long-lasting presence in modern culture. Moreover, it is one of the most famous paintings worldwide, drawing millions of visitors annually to the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it resides.

Analyses of the Mona Lisa’s continuing relevance reveal that the painting symbolizes many concepts, such as beauty, mystery, and individualism. It also often appears satirically used in films and books when representing different ideas about society or humanity. This reflects how people can still connect with the artwork centuries later despite being created during a completely different period.

Additionally, this Italian Renaissance masterpiece is referenced frequently through fashion trends, including t-shirts depicting her image or garments styled after her dress from the painting itself. Furthermore, she remains a timeless muse for new and old artists who look to recreate their versions of her portrait using contemporary techniques such as digital media or 3D printing. Her permanent residence within our collective consciousness highlights how influential and powerful works like hers can be over multiple generations.

In summary, what began as Leonardo da Vinci’s expressionist attempt at capturing human emotion on canvas hundreds of years ago has since become an integral part of modern culture that will continue to transcend historical boundaries into future eras.

The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa has captivated viewers for centuries. From its initial commitment to the present day, it is clear that her mysterious expression continues to influence art and culture in various ways. The scientific analysis of the painting has revealed much about how Leonardo da Vinci captured such a realistic expression. At the same time, differing interpretations provide insight into the various possible meanings behind this iconic image. Additionally, there is no doubt that the historical significance of the painting remains evident as it stands today as one of the world’s most famous works of art.

The impact of the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile on many aspects of art and culture over time cannot be denied. It is an example of how artistic representations can evoke emotion, symbolize different things to individuals, and remain relevant even centuries after they were created. Its continuing relevance in modern times reinforces how powerful a simple expression can be when captured by a masterful artist like Leonardo da Vinci.

Overall, it becomes apparent why so many people are drawn to this timeless masterpiece by scientifically exploring its origin and context, evaluating its influence culturally and historically, and considering its continuing relevance in today’s society. Its ability to stir emotions with only a glance makes it genuinely remarkable—one that will continue captivating viewers for generations ahead.

Bryan Harding

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Mona Lisa Smile Essay Samples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Leonardo Da Vinci , Mona , Mona Lisa , Lisa , Painting , Smile , Assumptions , Being

Published: 05/29/2023

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Heralded as one of the wonders of the art world, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has inspired artists and sparked debates for centuries. At a price point of about $787 million, one must wonder if this incredible price point is due to the ongoing mystery of what lies behind Mona Lisa’s smile. It is reported that Da Vinci played music for Mona Lisa while he painted her, however the validity of this is up for debate, much like the cause for the expression on her face. It is my personal opinion that the slight smile was due to a request from the artist, perhaps, because it is difficult to maintain anything other than a natural resting face position for long stretches of time. If this is not the case, I surmise the cause of her smile was because it is a great honor to be painted, especially during this time period where art was both heralded and commissioned in ways that were not done previously. The smile can also be interpreted as sarcastic, or annoyed. It looks as if Mona Lisa agreed to more than she’d bargained for, and was pained to find that she had to sit still for countless hours in order to create this now timeless work of art. Of course, I cannot say that any of my assumptions are fact. I don’t believe many things I have read about the Mona Lisa painting to be fact, simply because the historians who write about it, along with everyone else who currently writes about the painting, were not there to witness it. That being said, I do feel like her mood is one of both serenity and annoyance. Annoyance, again, because of sitting still, and serenity because it is a painting that you can get lost in. I feel like Mona Lisa may have gotten lost in sitting for the painting. Maybe she was thinking about a lengthy to-do list, her children, or the great demands that came with being a woman in a time period where women were severely disrespected and underprivileged. My limitations in drawing these assumptions about the painting are limitless. First, Mona Lisa is all but dust now, so all that remains is a painting that cannot talk back. However, for a dead woman, she has inspired music, movies, suicides (allegedly), poetry, and love notes in abundance. I cannot, you cannot, nor can anyone, ask Mona Lisa why her facial expression is so perplexing. I surmise that even if you could, she wouldn’t speak on it. I say this because nobody from the 16th century either bothered to ask her, or bothered to write down her response. I believe psychologists have severe limitations in making assumptions and drawing inferences because you can never truly know the reasons for a person’s actions or body language. Human beings are so complex that something such as Mona Lisa’s smile, pose, or mood she portrays can be attributed to a multitude of things, or nothing at all. Her face could have just been a serendipitous response to being painted and having to sit while her six children ran wild. The world will truly never know, and I am most perplexed as to why we are still talking about it.

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