The Mona Lisa is one of artist and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous pieces. It is a painting surrounded by rich history and mystery and is something that can surely be enjoyed by art students of all ages. There are a variety of lessons that can be taught on the topic of the Mona Lisa.
Modern Mona Lisa
Have students immerse themselves in the creation of their own Mona Lisa, with a modern twist. Give them each a copy of the photo and tell them to paint the Mona Lisa in a similar pose but with a modern identity. Allow students the freedom to take their piece wherever their imagination leads them. They may see the main figure wearing head phones and modern day clothing, or they may have a more abstract take on the subject matter. Encourage students to think about how the painting fits into society today, noticing similarities and differences in the way the painting may be executed.
Identity
Discuss the identity of the Mona Lisa. Although her true identity will more than likely remain a mystery for the ages since the painting's appearance on the art scene there have been a variety of theories as to who the smiling woman really was. Popular thought today states that the woman in question is most likely Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a well known art patron, but other theories have suggested that the sitter was Da Vinci himself. Hold a class discussion on the theories and have students write a paper or complete a project on their opinion on the matter, with the supporting evidence.
Painting Technique
Teach an interactive lesson on the techniques used in the production of the Mona Lisa. The primary technique used by Da Vinci for the Mona Lisa was Sfumato. Sfumato creates a blurred or smoky effect and its addition to the majority of the painting, in particular the outer layers, is what created the painting's mysterious air. It also helped to generate the softness that is expressed in the figure's face. Da Vinci himself described the effect as "without lines or borders, in the manner of smoke or beyond the focus plane." To provide an example of the technique paint a dark tone, such as black or navy, on a piece of paper. Then, while the paint is still wet, paint softly over it with an opaque shade of white.
Environment
In order to truly understand a painting it is important to study the environment in which it was created. Discuss Italy and the Renaissance time period. Talk about the art that came before the Mona Lisa and the art and aspects of life that inspired Da Vinci. This will give students an idea of what inspired the painting. It will also explain why the Mona Lisa was so important for the time period, and why it remains so to this day.
