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Ever Widening Circles

Leonardo da Vinci // Wikimedia

Arts

3 minute lesson

The (Actual) Magic of Mona Lisa’s Smile

Ever Widening Circles

You might be familiar with Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting the Mona Lisa. But have you ever wondered why it’s so famous?

Today, let’s explore the magic behind the famed smile of da Vinci’s masterpiece and learn how the artist combined optics, chemistry, and art to create what some consider the first augmented reality!

Why It Matters

So, Leonardo da Vinci was not only a skilled painter but an innovator in science and free-thinking! His experimentation with perspective and view pioneered a new way of painting, creating pictures that look three-dimensional.

Even if you’re still not convinced by the wonders of the Mona Lisa, we can take da Vinci’s attitude towards exploration and breaking the convention into our daily lives!

Let's Talk About It
  1. Do you see the Mona Lisa smiling or looking serious?
  2. What experimental techniques did da Vinci use to create the Mona Lisa?
  3. Think of things that inspire you, what do you find captivating about them?
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The Atlantic

The Atlantic is a magazine that began in 1857. They focus on challenging assumptions and pursuing truth by continuing to explore, going beyond to what matters, embracing a diversity of perspectives and immersing themselves, and their audience, in the world—instead of escaping from it.

Thank You

Thank you to Erin Murphy, an EWCed staff writer, for this contribution to EWCed’s touchstones! If you’d like to contribute to EWCed, please, let us know.

Citations

“How Leonardo Da Vinci ‘Augmented Reality’.” Vimeo, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2018, vimeo.com/265011101. Accessed 7 June 2018.

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