The Unveiled Secrets of Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is definitely one of the widest known paintings in the world, however, behind her mysterious smile there is a maze of secrets. Many years have passed since art historians inspected the painting in the infrared and X-ray technology revealing the sketches of the picture that should be under the final coat. Among some findings that are rather interesting, it is possible to note that da Vinci also could have painted her with even a bigger smile and more significant features.
Furthermore, the painting background has a series of wavy roads and bridges which to some may be identified as real sites in Italy perhaps to highlight the seat of the person sitting. There has been other speculations that the Mona Lisa was a self-portrait of Leonardo himself in womanly form. Although in themselves these assertions are rather speculative, they contribute to the charm of this spell-binding master-piece.
The Starry Night and The Secrets of the Heaven by Van Gogh
It is made up by Vincent van Gogh as his Starry Night is not only a wonderful image of the night sky; it is possibly a scientific one too. The astronomers have been able to counter-position the locations of the stars in the painting with that night sky in the real world as seen in Saint-Rmy-de-Provence in France, in June 1889. The spirals that are drawn in the sky and were previously believed as mere imaginations coincide with the actual astronomical features especially the spiral of the galaxy.
There is also some connection that draws Van Gogh to his mental issues in his art works. Starry Night was created when he was under residence in a mental asylum and the dramatic skies are suspected to reveal his anger cause. The very sleepy village at the bottom of the picture was created also since he did not have such a view through his window.
Da Vinci- The Mysterious Codes in his The Last Supper
The last supper Leonardo da Vinci is not only Bible scene, it is the scene on the canvas which contains mathematical and symbolical secrets. Depending on the way the hands and the heads of Jesus and the disciples are positioned, there are patterns which are supposed to represent the musical notes or the constellations. Other theorists have asserted that the musical image of that painting comes up with a brief musical piece that lasts 40 seconds.
Another interesting point is an appearance of the figure sitting next to Jesus; it is supposed to be John the Apostle. Other theorists however point out that it could in fact be Mary Magdalene due to the feminine appearance of the figure and a so called V shape between the two which symbolizes the womb or sacred feminine. Although the theory is a controversial one, it has aroused the interest of the world by writing books and movies about it.
The Disturbing Aspect in Michelangelo The Creation of Adam
The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo that was painted to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the famous scenes of human creation. But on a deeper scrutiny, academicians realized that the design around God actually bears an astounding anatomical similarity with a slice of the human brain.
This information has prompted some people to think that Michelangelo who was state to have possessed a wide knowledge about the anatomy of human beings wanted to incorporate a brain to indicate that God was also giving man intelligence. Others would go as far as stating that the red cloth that flows behind God looks like a uterus dropping the allusion of spiritual and physical birth. These theories further give other meanings to an already strong fresco.
In Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez there is a Hidden Self-Portrait.
Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez is a rather complex and tricky painting with its own secrets and novelty. The picture seems to be a loose portrait of the Spanish royal family that is impressing at first sight but it is really remarkable because of its composition. Velazquez artists himself in the process of painting and openly faces the viewer so that it is difficult to find the boundaries between the viewer and the participant.
The mirror in the background hints the presence of King Philip IV and Queen Mariana but they are not there physically. This is also an intelligent addition implying that Velazquez is their portraitist of the moment and we are being privy of the situation through their eyes. Due to usage of light, reflection and space, Las Meninas has become one of the most examined pictures in the Western art.
The Double Life of Grant Wood’s American Gothic
The American Gothic of Grant Wood The American Gothic of Grant Wood appeared in 1930, and is considered to be one of the most appropriate figures of a family which deserves the rights of a family because of the united efforts of family members having a similar aim.
When we take first glance at the American Gothic by Grant Wood it seems to be just a usual picture of farmer and his daughter or even his wife? The viewers have been baffled in their guesswork on the nature of the relationship between the subjects since decades. Wood used his sister and his dentist as fetish objects putting together an unlikely combination even before wondering what the fascination with it is.
Moreover, the painting was supposed to praise and satirize at the same time the life of rural America. On one hand, it was viewed as a hymn of the spirit of hard labor of Midwestern American, and on the other hand, it was perceived as an ironic remark at the conservatism. There is also consideration on the pitchfork the farmer is holding which is considered as a representation of the traditional labor yet, the shape resembles a trident giving it a disturbing note.
The Scream by Edvard Munch and the Ghostly Figure of the painting
Edvard Munch is known to have painted The Scream, a popular work of art of the modern times that deals with anxiety and hopelessness, yet, there is more behind its dark scene. The analysis of infrared more recently revealed a sentence in the upper left corner of the original painting written in ghostly handprint, and saying, Could only have been painted by a madman. It was long believed to be vandalism but subsequent studies have indicated that most probably it was done by Munch himself.
This creepy detail correlates with the extreme emotional value of the art work. As Munch explicated the event that led him to paint it, he reported that there was some point when he felt that a scream was going through the nature in a sort of way, and the swirls of colors and the wavy lines seem to escalate all the psychological distraughtness he was in. The background people also contribute to the effect of isolation and fear and that is the distant and faceless figures.
Botticelli Birth of Venus and Secret Paganism
The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli is considered to be very beautiful and graceful although the themes behind it contradict the religious principles of that era. The painting glorifies the pagan goddess Venus and that too was a daring step in the renaissance which was saturated more with Christians. The shell, the waving hair and the divine nudity have occurrences of ancient Roman and Greek notions of beauty.
Other researchers suggest, that this painting is not only the mythological scene, but a kind of symbolic display of spiritual love, arising above physical desire. All the work itself is saturated with the clues to Neoplatonism-the philosophy system which is a combination of classics in the philosophy and mystical ideas in spiritualism.
Cubist Puzzle in Les Demoiselles dAvignon of Picasso
The Les Demoiselles dAvignon by Pablo Picasso is infamous in its violation of the traditional principles of perspective and insetting the stage of Cubism. Unknown to many people is the fact that the painting is very rich in the allusions to the African and the Iberian tribal masks as seen in the face of the women on the right side. This was one of the ways Picasso was injecting what he termed as the primitive influences in order to decry the western beauty standards.
The women in the painting are real prostitutes in a brothel in Barcelona, and the painting does not criticize them, on the contrary, it looks at the viewer point-blank and does not allow to overlook them. Such uncooked and disjointedness of the piece is a direct expression not only of the stylistic revolution but also of the social one.
Conclusion
Masterpieces are not the only great works that consist of famous paintings; famous paintings follow a pattern of puzzle like art with the cluster of meanings and history and secrets behind them. Whether it was da Vinci hiding a song in The Last Supper, Michelangelo including a brain in The Creation of Adam or Van Gogh telling how he felt through Starry Night, every artist encourages people to see more in his or her painting. These rather interesting facts and little secrets of the hidden meanings do not only enrich the process of viewing but also the appreciation of each brushstroke genius.
