View Full Version : The Mona Lisa's eyes....
Leopardess
10-27-2005, 4:19 PM
Okay guys, weird question coming your way.
I'm writing a paper (nothing very intensive or difficult) dealing with the Mona Lisa and how it so accutely represents the era in which it was created. Problem is, I can't decide what adjective I'd use for the eyes of the sitter.
I'm aiming for something like this:
That knowing smile. That glowing olive complexion. Those **** eyes. It is, of course, the Mona Lisa. Yada yada yada...
WHAT DO YOU SEE THEM AS?
Here's a picture for reference.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/vinci/joconde/joconde.jpg
Any help would be great:)
sumthin fishy
10-27-2005, 4:25 PM
smug? it reminds me of the thousand yard stare war vets get, but I don't know what you call it...
Leopardess
10-27-2005, 4:27 PM
Thanks sum. See...I don't know. I get more of a sense of playfulness than smug allows. But duly noted.
Keep 'em coming, please:)
maybe u could put inchanting
Debra Mark
10-27-2005, 4:36 PM
she knows a secret the rest of us are DYING to find out....
OrionGirl
10-27-2005, 4:39 PM
I'd go with "Eyes focused on a secret just out of sight."
Leopardess
10-27-2005, 4:41 PM
I may change it to "sight" OG - too much time on the web!:D I'm just messing with you.
I may change it to something akin to what you and debra have said. However, I'd like to keep the parallel structure of the three lines if at all possible. Maybe there is an adjective out there for your thoughts!:)
Any more interpretations? The more the merrier! I also am interested in the general concensus!
EDIT: Aw dang, you're fast with the edit button:)
pophead
10-27-2005, 4:42 PM
she's saying, "hurry up and take that picture! er, I mean painting"
Those...."Knowing" eyes .... ???
Looks like she knows something we don't.....
OrionGirl
10-27-2005, 4:44 PM
;) Yeah--I've spent all morning working on my work's site, so it's on the brain. sigh.
Hmmm...Going for parallel structure, I'd say "Those alluring eyes."
Leopardess
10-27-2005, 4:47 PM
See! Now we have alluring coupled with an interpretation as smug! Those things are fairly mutually exclusive.
More personal interpretations please!
sumthin fishy
10-27-2005, 4:47 PM
Those playfully distant eyes. :huh:
she knows a secret the rest of us are DYING to find out....You might be on to something here. I saw a show on Leonardo de Vinci and there is a school of thought that the painting is actually Leonardo himself. They took the known pictures/paintings we all see of Leondardo and superimposed them over a copy of the Mona Lisa. The eyes are really the things that strike you as looking the same on both people. And there are some other facial features that look real close.
sublime1184
10-27-2005, 6:30 PM
intriguing
..."capable of arousing interest or curiosity"
I think that fits well...
Leopardess
10-27-2005, 8:22 PM
I can say, from what we've covered in my Art History classes, it's not the Leondardo's self-portrait. It is really likely to have been a Florentine merchant's wife.
The self-portrait theory is, as far as I'm aware, unsupported by most Art Historians.
Makes for neat conjecture though:) Of course, that concept gets brought up a lot with everything. "Did Michaelangelo paint himself into the Last Judgement?" "Did Durer engrave himself into the Fall of Man as Eve?" etc etc. I think we just like controversy:D
NatakuTseng
10-27-2005, 8:36 PM
Those gentle warm eyes.
mishi8
10-27-2005, 9:14 PM
I'd say mysterious gaze...or some synonyms that may sound better: enigmatic, cryptic, impenetrable.
flyfly
10-28-2005, 12:59 AM
i like what i first thought you typed. "...Those ******* eyes" lol, can you swear on this paper? cuz that sentance has a great ring to it ^^
125gJoe
10-28-2005, 1:43 AM
Her eyes shown below, depict her as the victims of 'sleep paralysis' see her.
This most likey is a proven fact, as many "experts" have done exhaustive studies on the phenomena.
------------------- > :D
.
http://hebb.cis.uoguelph.ca/~nharvey/fun/mona_lisa.jpg
blitzen25bm
10-28-2005, 4:52 AM
You might be on to something here. I saw a show on Leonardo de Vinci and there is a school of thought that the painting is actually Leonardo himself. They took the known pictures/paintings we all see of Leondardo and superimposed them over a copy of the Mona Lisa. The eyes are really the things that strike you as looking the same on both people. And there are some other facial features that look real close.
did you read da vinci's code?
LOL Joe.....MUST be the sleep paralysis thing....!
Yeah, Blitzan....I read about half of the book, I couldn't read any more..it was terrible ! LOL.......I especially like the part where the two main characters are zipping over a hundred MPH down the streets of Paris with the Paris police in hot persuit....meanwhile the two are engaging in an very indepth discussion about thier theories behind the mystery....yeah right....when you're driving like that the ONLY thing you can concentrate on would be your driving....lol....
I found the book to be rather dull and badly written......
Leopardess
10-28-2005, 9:58 AM
Enigmatic is sounding kind of nice....
I'm still thinking about it.
Holly9937
10-28-2005, 12:18 PM
I say mischievous... I used to be so good at spelling in grade school, what happened :confused: ?!?!? Did I butcher that :laugh:
Dangerdoll
10-28-2005, 12:26 PM
I can't think of anything except "browless eyes".... but then I never really looked at that painting for more than what it looks like at the passing glance...
Joe!! you have been successfully at scaring the heebie-jeebies outta me this morning :D
nursie
10-28-2005, 1:01 PM
I think "secretive eyes" would work...
or "mysterious secretive eyes"....
or "intriguing secretive"...
did you read da vinci's code?No. Never have.
125gJoe
11-04-2005, 3:19 AM
..
Joe!! you have been successfully at scaring the heebie-jeebies outta me this morning :DKinda late, but sorry about that... :D