For hundreds of years, art lovers have admired and been mesmerized by the portrait of Mona Lisa. Without doubt, many people viewing the portrait of the mystic lady feel a connection, talking about the mood, the hidden history, and the over all feeling they get when gazing into the eyes of the woman. Most people don’t realize that the Mona Lisa is one of the first paintings which a woman is allowed to look directly into the eyes of the viewer. Perhaps, this was what made the painting so famous in the beginning, and the fame continued down through the centuries. I’m from the school that believes eyes depicted by artists in a portrait is what makes or breaks the portrait. Eyes by themselves can make great art.
Artist that concentrates on the eyes of the people they paint (whether portraits or scenes where people are included) can master the art of capturing the viewers attention. The eyes provide the primary focus, helping to define a relationship between the composition and the viewer.
When studying the many self portraits of Vincent Van Gogh, one can’t help but see a disturbing history of pain and bewilderment seen in the eyes of the artist. It was as if over time he knew the path which he ultimately would travel, as if he was crying out for help, not understand why others did not see what he was seeing and feeling.
Probably, the most famous and recognizable eyes are those of Marylin Monroe depicted by the great pop artist, Andy Warhol, in his silkscreen. Many artists have painted the eyes of the great icon of celebrity who was admired by millions of fans. Secretly, I feel that out in the great world of artists, we have all tried to paint her eyes. Warhol, however, managed to capture a distant Marilyn, seemingly unfocused and detached. The photograph below does not properly depict the quality of the painting, but is used strictly for the educational benefit of this article.
Below is a photograph of my brother, Lynn Burton, working in his studio on a series of airbrushed eyes.
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter. One of our members will receive the beautiful art book, Splash 14.
