Replies: 8 Comments
on Sunday, June 26th, Tim said
One thing that makes the Mona Lisa current is how it continues to inspire take-offs, parodies, homages and so forth. (See my link above.) It doesn't matter what people say about you, so long as they keep talking...
on Monday, June 13th, jfsmith said
Why is the Mona Lisa grinning? Guess why? Art is ageless and timeless, some art is done by humans and other is just nature at work.
I was asked to repair another persons architectural metal work that was done in the 1890s, the artist is long dead, but not forgotten. I do this type of metal work with old methods and new methods. This persons work was Victorian in nature, with a little flare. It is a privilege to work on such fine art. I hope my little contribution out lives me.
Jerry
on Tuesday, June 7th, Hans said
I think Michael is very right. Real art is ageless, it is in fact a time machine. That brushstroke, what is very real there on the canvas, made 500 years ago. You still see the move of the painters hand. Thats one of the biggest mysteries and strength of a painting. What only changes is the reception of those images, one day spitted on, next day forgotten, next day 50.000.000, critisized, banned, adored, ignored and so on. About "Making a statement", even on that field, some older art is much more convincing/comprehensive than the latest contemporary. But maybe comprehensive statements in art became doubtly since Beuys, impossible, unwanted...
On the other hand there is (contemporary)art, wich fascinates one 2-3 years, but at one point becomes uninteresting, loosing its magic. It would be interesting to know, if in such case, the artpiece can keep up its magic in 2 or 3 generation again, because reception changed. In my case I had this feeling of loosing interest in the art of Neo Rauch, I cant see it anymore, altough I thought it to be great no long time ago.
on Monday, June 6th, Gabe Langholtz said
Peter, life isn't always what people say it is. So he carried this painting around with him. OK. But why, because he loved it? that's an easy answer. If he loved it the way you are suggesting he did, he might have come to the logical conclusion that carrying his "masterpiece" with him would more likely put it in harms way than keeping it in a safe place while he was away.
Peter, (if you are an artist which I am assuming you are) let me ask you this, how many of your works do you carry around with you? would you honestly carry completed works (your favorite works) with you while you traveled if you had no intention of doing anything with them when you reached your destination? Who needs the baggage? Perhaps he carried it because he wanted it on hand when inspiration hit, who honestly knows? However we do know it is far more logical to carry a work in progress than one that is already completed, and from what I understand, I'm fairly certain da Vinci was a logical man.
Peter, you must remember that art history is a mixture of fact and opinion, fact da Vinci did exist and did paint the Mona Lisa, opinion he carried it with him because he loved it so. Yes, the art historians have their opinions, and so I have mine. What you have is an A+.
Life isn't always what it seems, nor what we're told it is. Personally, I'll pass on the traditional thinking, because it's only agreeing or accepting. There is no thought involved once ways become traditional.
on Monday, June 6th, Kristi Langholtz said
hopefully these "masters" did have fun. It isn't much fun in today's society, because people would just as soon pay $350 for a framed poster than an original work by someone they have not currently heard of. The thing is, most of these people aren't really keeping up with today's contemporary artists so why should they have heard of any of us. what they know is probably what they learned in school, a time in their lives in which they couldn't afford to frame a poster so they used thumb tacks.
sure it can all be considered contemporary, but the knowledge isn't current.
on Monday, June 6th, majura@internode.on.net">peter Johnson said
gabe u take some art history lessons. Da Vinci carried this painting with him everywhere--it obviously was special and not just another painting
on Monday, June 6th, gabe langholtz said
perhaps Mona Lisa is grinning, because that's the only way da Vinci could work out the intricacies of her mouth on that particular day, perhaps the famous grin is not what he intended, but what he came to first, and settled on because it was enough to satisfy him. If we push aside the mystique we might remember that we're all the same. I'm certain da Vinci was not stuck on the Mona Lisa the way historians seem to be. It was a painting like any other. For all we know, he may not have favored the Mona Lisa painting at all. either way he knew there would be another painting to follow. We must remember that what's agreed upon by art historians as exceptional began as nothing at all, as all things do.
on Monday, June 6th, George said
Wherever you live, Michael, I'm sure there is an university or art school. Take some art history classes. It will help you immensely.
