The two painting chosen for these essay is Pablo Picasso’s Seated Woman (Marie Therese) done in 1937 and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa completed in 1517 (Sassoon n.p). The two artwork are exemplary drawings depicting defining characteristics of their era. The outstanding similarity is that the two portray pictures of women. Nonetheless, the aesthetic sense in the two is clearly distinct.
Among art lovers, Mona Lisa usually appeals to many and has therefore endured numerous centuries. The mysterious and yet inviting smile of the woman has always been a source of discussion and debate over the ages. The intricate detail and the multiple outlooks applied to the portrait is typical to Da Vinci and the Renaissance era (Sassoon n.p). Da Vinci work was highly meticulous unlike Picasso’s work that was spontaneous and a quick reaction. Nonetheless, Picasso was also experimental with his works and that led to groundbreaking portraits just like the Mona Lisa.
So as to fully appreciate the two masterpieces, it is imperative to analyze the relationships between women and artists. Picasso’s work was a portrait of his long-term mistress. For that reason, the artist depicts her as having a bright disposition hence the youthfulness in the theme. The allure of youth is further emphasized by her symbolic blonde hair (Murrell 7). On the other hand, Mona Lisa portrait was professionally commissioned. For that reason, da Vinci adopted a rather formal design and positioned the lady at the center of the frame. A light from the same source is directed at her chest, neck, arms, and face. The way in which Mona Lisa Portrait uses the armchair is entirely different from the Maria Therese artwork. The former uses the seat to distance the audience from the art while the latter uses the seat as a symbol of locking up or caging the subject.
Works Cited
Murrell, Denise. "African influences in modern art." Heilbrunn timeline of art history (2000).
Sassoon, Donald. Becoming Mona Lisa: The making of a global icon. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001.
