A reader has asked me what I see when I look at this painting by Leonardo da Vinci. 

Ironically, I have never connected with this painting, and there could be many reasons for it.

Perhaps da Vinci didn’t accurately replicate the emotion Mona Lisa was displaying on her face  in this portraiture, or he painted her from memory and missed elements or detail to make it realistic?

Mona Lisa’s face just feels empty to me.  Her eyes reflect a smile, but no other elements of her face support it.  Her mouth has a slight tension about it and a hint of contempt, but again, its not natural or realistic.  And her body language conveys a very relaxed person–all conflicting messages to me.

Perhaps da Vinci had conflicting feelings of Mona Lisa as he painted her?

Or he intentionally misaligned her expression to cause mystery?

Many speculate that da Vinci was mentally ill, so maybe he saw the world askew?

I don’t think we’ll ever know. 

Many say the painting is enigmatic.  To that, I would agree.