oil and cold wax on canvas cm. 90×60
I created the painting “Monnalisa’s Smile” inspired by the changes in the world, from global to local phenomena, and I wanted to reflect them in my work. Specifically, I addressed the theme of change within a globalized society, observing how many social, intellectual, and cultural structures are dissolving, driven by the economic needs of our time.
In my reinterpretation of the Mona Lisa, I wanted to depict classical art as abandoned and forgotten. The figure of the Mona Lisa and her frame appear torn, cut, and damaged, symbolizing a future where no one will care for the great masterpieces of the past anymore. I see her abandoned, outside museums, outside the Louvre, and only her smile will remain as a distant memory. This painting is a provocation, a call for innovation in a world losing its certainties.
During the project phase, I deliberately experimented with the deterioration of a canvas, damaging and burning it, to study the folds and holes of the ruined material up close. This process allowed me to accurately and realistically reproduce the effects of decay in the final painting. From the initial sketch to finished work, it took me six months, partly due to the drying time needed for the oil paint and cold wax, materials I used to create the final effect.
The painting, created in 2023 with oil and cold wax using Leonardo’s signature glazing technique, measures 90 cm. in height and 60 cm. in width. “Monnalisa’s Smile” was exhibited in January 2024 at the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in the Church of San Barnaba in Venice and can be viewed during the museum’s opening hours. Additionaly, the museum also displays two more of my reinterpretations of the Mona Lisa, which are part of this reflection on classical art and its future.
Contacts
https://www.premioceleste.it/monica.catto
facebook: Catto Art
instagram: catto___art
tiktok: @monicacatto
Links
https://www.artgalleryhotel.eu/artists/monica-catto
https://www.celesteprize.com/monica.catto
https://www.saatchiart.com/account/profile/1000797
https://www.pitturiamo.com/it/pittore-contemporaneo/cattoart-13035.html
https://www.artavita.com/artists/12813-catto_art
https://www.alphaainc.com/user/5938
https://amici.premiomestredipittura.eu/artisti/catto-monica
https://artelaguna.world/artist/catto-monica
https://www.risunoc.com/2020/08/fabrika-znachenij-monica-catto.html
