I was JUST commenting on the black and white version when you deleted it


It still carries the same aura, of distance. Clearly she's not even a part of this world, nor indeed all this shenanigan

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Katie Franke
Traditional Art Gallery Moderator}

Haha, I didn't realise when I was uploading it, but I went a little nuts on the curves and overburned it badly, too badly to allow it to go on. And since the b&w conversion was alomst impossible without overburning it, I opted to do a nice color version. I've been developing a taste for color lately, b&w at times seems too lazy a choice.

Yeah, it was impossible to even come near the painting because of the guards and the horde of "art appreciators." Which is additionally baffling due to the fact that this particular picture needs to be seen up close in order to appreciate what is most important about it- the strokes, the colors, the sfumato.

In addition, the room Mona Lisa is hosted in is actually full of some really nice art in the generally rather underwhelming (my impression) Louvre collection which is being viewed by NOBODY due to the fact that everybody seems glued to Mona Lisa. But, oh well.

I still remember the first time I ever saw it, when I was just a child. My first impression is how small it is, well, a lot smaller than I imagined.

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Katie Franke
Traditional Art Gallery Moderator}

I expected it to be about the size it is. And I'm not a big fan of it, or Da Vinci, but it deserves better than the frenzy I witnessed, and so do all the other paintings in that room. It seems almost...sad.

I admire Da Vinci though. No doubt he was quite the genius and I have a very soft spot for people capable of imagination

I'm not so much a "fan" of any particular artist. I have my favourites. Nothing like "fandom" though.

What's sad to me is that there are no artistic movements anymore. No brilliant artists banning together for the sake of progression. Instead we're scattered in little pockets. Being suffocated by "design", or what I think to be everyone's attempt at making themselves a part some sort of an equation.

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Katie Franke
Traditional Art Gallery Moderator}

And if there are movements, they are small, underground, and, frankly, usually centered around really, really bad art.

Of course, Da Vinci is nothing less than a fascinating figure, for his art as well as his technology. His art, while technically impeccable, leaves me cold, it's incredibly well executed, but there isn't much content to be found in it. But certainly he's more than earned his place in history.

Exactly.

It seems that everyone is trying so desperately to earn a place for themselves. No one is able to or maybe even willing to see farther ahead. And it's depressing because one single person can't make a difference :/

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Katie Franke
Traditional Art Gallery Moderator}

Everybody's too cool for school.

Ah well.



Venting is good.



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Katie Franke
Traditional Art Gallery Moderator}

Sweet, sweet venting