Mona Lisa Smile

In April of 2003 I was in college and the guy I was dating at the time (this was before I had met and married my husband) was studying for his PhD in Holland, so I took a Spring Break trip to visit him. We ended up taking a train from his home to Paris for the weekend, where I was really looking forward to visiting the Louvre and the many masterpieces on display.

We spent hours wandering the halls, marveling at all wondrous paintings and sculptures, drinking in all the beauty around us.

It was awesome. I didn't want to leave.

We saved on particular painting for last. One of the most famous, most talked about masterpieces in any museum.

The Mona Lisa.

She has been described as enigmatic. She's been speculated about for many generations. Who is she? Was it a self-portrait of Leondardo himself? Why are her hands positioned the way they are? Was she pregnant? What is up with that smile? What secret is she hiding?

I couldn't wait to see her. And here she is:







My first impression? Not impressed. I was actually disappointed.

Perhaps it was the fact that the crowd surrounding her was so huge, with hundreds of flashes going off a second. I've read that nearly 6 million people visit the Louvre every year, and I can believe that. They were all there that day.

Unlike the other paintings, where you can practically reach out and touch them, she was roped off and protected behind glass. So you couldn't get close and make a connection. She was high up above us.

But maybe it was her size. I had seen the painting in many books and featured in many documentaries, so I imagined it to be...somewhat larger and magnificent. But she was actually rather small.

So there you have it. I had the opportunity to see one of the world's priceless works of art, and I walked away disappointed. Sorry, Mr. da Vinci.