“Unlocking the Enigma: Discover the Hidden Mysteries Behind the Mona Lisa’s Smile”
Going back to the mouth of the Mona Lisa, moving past her eyes that gaze into your soul no matter where you are standing, the same ambiguity applies to the corners of her oral orifice, raising many questions about her smile, variously described as ‘vague’ and ‘enigmatic’. Curiously, every admirer appears to have a different opinion on the nature of the lady’s subtle grin, ranging from an expression of melancholy to serene mirth. Is there a deeper meaning behind that smile?
A 2017 study by the University of Freiburg, Germany, argued that no, we should not look for a hidden message. The researchers developed eight slight variations of the original picture, altering the corners of Lisa’s mouth. In four of the images, her smile was more open. In the other four, her expression indicated sadness. They then showed the eight variations, plus the original, to hundreds of volunteers, asking them to describe if the person in the pictures was happy or sad. When confronted with the original, unmodified Lisa, 97% of responders stated that she simply looked happy.
Back in the 16th Century, artist, architect and writer Giorgio Vasari. In his work Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, first published in 1550, had no doubts about it: the woman in the painting was indeed merry, as Leonardo himself went to great lengths to keep her so! Although many discount Vasari’s account here, where he states:
“He [Leonardo] continually employed musicians or singers and jesters who made her merry, in
