Artpress Essay Questions Mona Lisa's Enduring Gaze
In an October 1989 essay for Artpress, the author challenges the sanctity of canonical artworks and ideas, using Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa as a case study. The piece argues that reexamining revered masterpieces can reveal whether they still hold relevance. The essay is a critical reflection on the relationship between the viewer's face and that of the Mona Lisa, probing the cultural weight assigned to the painting.
Key facts
- The essay was published in Artpress in October 1989.
- The author questions the continued relevance of canonical artworks.
- The Mona Lisa is used as a central example.
- The essay is titled 'Notre visage et le visage de la Joconde'.
- The author suggests shaking up 'old sacred words and old consecrated truths'.
- The piece is a critical reflection on the viewer's relationship with the painting.
- The essay is written in French.
- The source URL is from artpress.com.
Entities
Artists
- Leonardo da Vinci
Institutions
- Artpress
Sources
- artpress —