see the Mona Lisa in person

I was lucky enough to visit Paris as part of a trip to Europe in my senior year of high school. We visited the Louvre, and I was able to see the Mona Lisa. It’s quite busy, with crowds constantly around it, so you’ll only get a short glimpse, but if you study art or are interested in it, it’s worth the experience.

It was quite small, and I only got to see it for a few seconds. My dad said it looked like a man.

It was smaller than I had been led to believe. Also, there were a million other people in the room tyring to look at it.

Woohoo… went to the Louvre yesterday and saw her. It was great. Even though it was a Sunday I went nice and early (got there about 20 minutes before opening). It was a tiny bit crowded in front of her, but not frustratingly so, maybe about 15 people. But most people take a look and wander away, so you can have a full and relaxing view. Then I had 5 hours to just wander around the rest of the museum. So, it’s true, as you walk from one side of the room to the other look at her eyes. They follow you!

PS There’s a map at the front desk that takes you straight to her. She’s not hard to find at all.

i am closer to doing this, as i’ll be in paris in 3 weeks… so yay!!

She’s like a treasure hunt. Running around the Louvre, with nothing to guide you but the occasional photocopied picture of her and the words, “La Joconde”, and “Mona Lisa”. After searching and searching, we come into a large gallery with huge open windows and benches in the middle. We see a crowd. This can only mean one thing. We walk into the side room, a vast room, covered in paintings you just have to feel a little sorry for, and look to the middle wall. There she is, far smaller than you imagine her to be. She really does look like a postage stamp when you get down to how big the wall, and the crowd is and how small she is. After gaping at her and wondering what she was smiling at, I turn the corner of the wall she’s on, and feel deeply sad for the paintings on the other side of her. How many people in the course of history have missed these paintings’ beauty? I don’t want to count. Anyway. Even though she’s small, and there will definitely be a crowd there to make sure you don’t get too close, she’s still a marvel.

I was going to rate this Not Worth It.. but regardless, it is neat to see something so historically important. It was not what I was expecting however, probably taking up the smallest amount of wall space than any other painting in that room. It was also very difficult to get close to it with the crowd due to the position of the painting.. but nonetheless, to see the work of a genius is a pretty cool experience.