Mona Lisa Smile =link= Official

Livingstone argues that Leonardo da Vinci was a master of sfumato —a technique that eliminates harsh lines with smoky, blurred transitions. When you look directly at the Mona Lisa ’s mouth (using your central vision), the smile disappears. The shadows seem to flatten into a neutral, serious gaze. However, if you look at her eyes or her hands (using your peripheral vision), the shadow of her cheeks and the tilt of her mouth catch the light, and suddenly, she is beaming.

The painting’s Italian title, La Gioconda , plays on her married name, but it also serves as a poetic pun. In Italian, gioconda means "happy" or "jovial." It suggests a woman who is content, a sentiment captured in that enigmatic curl of her lips. Mona Lisa Smile

When your gaze moves to her eyes or the background, your peripheral vision picks up the soft shadows around her lips, making the smile appear broader and more joyful. Neurobiology at Work: Livingstone argues that Leonardo da Vinci was a