Introduction
The Louvre is one of the most famous sights of Paris and one of the most famous art museums in the world. The trip to the Louvre took place at the end of May. The museum has an official website where the visitor can view all available information about opening hours, as well as view the collection of the museum (Louvre 1). The most visited wing houses a collection of Italian paintings, including the Mona Lisa.
A Conversation with the Person Involved
I met Margaret at the museum and asked her a question about how she came to work at the Louvre. Margaret turned out to be a passionate lover of art, who decided to connect her life with the museum. Margaret has a degree in fine arts and theater and has been involved in art since a young age. However, Margaret notes that work in a large museum is now stressful, due to the lack of respect, which many tourists do not show for works of art.
General Atmosphere
The museum is located in a beautiful scenery, and the hotel allowed us to see a panoramic view of the Louvre; the overall impression was positive. The museum was lively and very crowded, tickets had to be booked in advance, but it was not necessary to stand in line for a long time. The interior atmosphere, despite the beauty of the building, was depressing. The impression was spoiled by tourists who made noise and did not allow us to enjoy the art, treating the cultural heritage disrespectfully.
Mona Lisa
The most impressive work of art, for which many go to the Louvre, is the Mona Lisa. Thinking about such a serious work of art, it seems that it should be of an impressive size; in fact, the picture is very small. The formation of the impression was influenced more by the expectation of something great than the picture itself. The overall impression of the majesty of the work played a positive effect.
Impression Formation
My impression of the Mona Lisa is explained by the fact that the picture is painted masterfully, it is especially striking that it comes into motion. This effect is possible due to the use of artistic techniques by Leonardo da Vinci. The main technics that Leonardo da Vinci uses are the sfumato technique and inaccuracy of lines. The background shrouded in fog, the colors used by the artist create a sense of naturalness and liveliness (Horstmann et al. 1). One of the elements of the work is the smile of the Mona Lisa, known all over the world (Hoyos et al. 1327). Its presence and shape are determined depending on the angle of view; the effect is created by its incompleteness.
Significance of Experience
The trip to the Louvre, of course, was a great impression, this experience gave information about the relationship between people and art. Tourists visit the Louvre as a necessary attraction, and not as a place of unity with art. Noise and crowding distract from the perception of a unique cultural experience. Not everyone appreciates art in its perfect manifestations, and this is the depressing side of modern society. Art changes daily life, offering to slow down and immerse in something that will be valuable centuries later (Khan Academy 00:00:10-00:02:00). After visiting the Louvre, I notice more often the small but beautiful things around me. The opportunity to touch the cultural heritage expanded my horizons.
Conclusion
The Louvre made a significant impression on me, and it was definitely a positive experience. The Mona Lisa is a masterpiece thanks to Leonardo da Vinci’s revolutionary technique. The impression was spoiled by the massive popularity of the Louvre. The attitude towards art can talk about the people who touch it (Big Think 1). The dismissive attitude of people with art and workers in this field is frustrating. However, thousands of people from all over the world come to the Louvre sincerely wanting to enjoy the beautiful works of artists.
Works Cited
Big Think. “How Art Can Change Society, with Sarah Lewis.” YouTube, 2014, Web.
Horstmann, Gernot, and Sebastian Loth. “The Mona Lisa illusion—scientists see her looking at them though she isn’t.” i-Perception 10.1, 2019, 1-4, Web.
Hoyos, Alfredo, Mauricio Pérez, and Ivan Mogollon. “Artnatomy for advanced body contouring and aesthetic balance between breast and body.” Plastic and Aesthetic Regenerative Surgery and Fat Grafting. Springer, Cham, 2022, 1327-1348, Web.
Le Louvre, Visit. Le Louvre, 2022, Web.
“Why Look at Art? Start Here.” Khan Academy, 2012, Web.