Believe it or not: Mona Lisa's famed smile may be forced
Most neuropsychological theories say that if a smile is asymmetric it is usually non-genuine.
By PTI |
Agencies
Recent research has suggested that asymmetric smiles can be a sign of insincerity or of a lie.
LONDON: Mona Lisa's famed smile may be forced, according to a study which suggests that Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci deliberately portrayed her that way.
Researchers at St George's, University of London in the UK set out to investigate the truth of Mona Lisa's expression and apply neuroscientific principles to the world's best-known painting.
They investigated the mechanism of the expression and used a 'chimeric face' technique; cutting the mouth in half and placing each half alongside its mirror image.
The two chimeric images were judged by a group of 42 healthy subjects and rated according to the expression perceived.
File photo: People watch a hologram called 'Studio di uomo barbuto' (study of bearded man) during the Leonardo da Vinci multimedia installation 'Leonardo Da Vinci 3D' at the Fabbrica del Vapore (Steam Factory) in Milan.
The subjects agreed that the left-left image showed happiness, while the right-right side image was less expressive, being perceived as neutral or even sad.
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The research, published in the journal Cortex, concluded that the Mona Lisa is smiling asymmetrically.
The researchers, including Luca Marsili of the University of Cincinnati in the US and Matteo Bologna of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, then applied their neuroscientific knowledge to this conclusion.
"According to the most accredited neuropsychological theories, if a smile is asymmetric it is usually non-genuine," said Lucia Ricciardi at St George's, University of London.
"While what we call a Duchenne' smile, a genuinely spontaneous smile, is bilateral and symmetrical. It's also characterised by upper face activation and that also doesn't seem to be the case in this portrait," Ricciardi said.
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Recent research has suggested that asymmetric smiles can be a sign of insincerity or of a lie.
"Of course, we know that posing for a picture for many hours will result in a forced expression. But we also know that Leonardo was a master of 'sfumato' -- the technique of shading which is used to demonstrate expression," Ricciardi said.
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"He deliberately raised her left lip, as if to paint a smirk. He would have known that curving the lip on both sides and adding folds around the eyes would have shown a genuine smile.
"And he had this knowledge hundreds of years before Duchenne's work in the 1800s. So we have enjoyed hypothesising that this asymmetry was a deliberate action. What we still don't know is the reason that he portrayed her this way -- so her smile is as elusive as ever," he said.
Sculptures, Paintings, Wall Of Doughnuts: The Best Of India Art Fair 2019
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Bright colours, quirky designs and innovative sculptures!
Delhi was all about interesting art installations at the NSIC Grounds. The much-awaited India Art Fair painted the town in multiple hues of India's diverse arts on the opening day.
The four-day art fair will conclude on Sunday.
Here's a glimpse of some amazing installations by renowned artists.
Bright colours, quirky designs and innovative sculptures!
Delhi was all about interesting art installations at the NSIC Grounds. The much-awaited India Art Fair painted the town in multiple hues..
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A visual treat for modern and contemporary art lovers, this exhibition includes masterpieces created by artists like FN Souza, Raja Ravi Varma, Akbar Padamsee and Tyeb Mehta.
It offers a peek into India's rich art and culture.
A visual treat for modern and contemporary art lovers, this exhibition includes masterpieces created by artists like FN Souza, Raja Ravi Varma, Akbar Padamsee and Tyeb Mehta.
It offers a peek in..
Read More
The four-day long fair will continue till February 3 and is being held at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds near Okhla. It brings together works of over 1000 artists and 75 institutions from all over India under one roof.
The four-day long fair will continue till February 3 and is being held at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds near Okhla. It brings together works of over 1000 artists and 75 institutions from all over India..
Read More
While every piece of art was worth admiring for hours, some caught our attention more than the rest. Here's a round up of the works of art displayed at the India Art Fair.
While every piece of art was worth admiring for hours, some caught our attention more than the rest. Here's a round up of the works of art displayed at the India Art Fair.
Bangladeshi artist Aminul Islam Ashik's sculpture depicting Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya exodus was one of the major attractions at IAF.
The pink sculpture of Kyi's face was divided in half, where the upper half is supported by keys and figures of the general populous.
Other works by Ashik that caught the attention of visitors were the sculptures of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Bangladeshi artist Aminul Islam Ashik's sculpture depicting Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya exodus was one of the major attractions at IAF.The pink sculpture of Kyi's fac..
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Another interesting piece of art at the IAF was a wall decorated with doughnuts. Put together by Jae Yong Kim, the glittering wall of confections looked good enough to eat and hence made it to our list of favourites from the exhibition.
Another interesting piece of art at the IAF was a wall decorated with doughnuts. Put together by Jae Yong Kim, the glittering wall of confections looked good enough to eat and hence made it to our li..
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Artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar also displayed his work at the India Art Fair.
An otherwise untitled work of art, it carried the message 'For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror'.
Artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar also displayed his work at the India Art Fair. An otherwise untitled work of art, it carried the message 'For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror'.
Another popular attraction at the IAF was Dhananjay Singh's sculpture inspired by the cycle of human life. It depicted the head of a man in silver and a tree emerging from it.
Another popular attraction at the IAF was Dhananjay Singh's sculpture inspired by the cycle of human life. It depicted the head of a man in silver and a tree emerging from it.
The displacement wall I and II made it to the Indian Art Fair. The model, created by Abir Karmakar, was a typical bedroom setup with a bed, table, door and walls for cupboards.
The displacement wall I and II made it to the Indian Art Fair. The model, created by Abir Karmakar, was a typical bedroom setup with a bed, table, door and walls for cupboards.
