Mona Lisa c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Jean-Baptiste-Raphael-Urbain Massard's "Mona Lisa." It's quite striking. The monochromatic rendering really highlights the texture of the fabric and her skin. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: Observe how the engraver uses line and value to create a sense of depth and volume. Note the contrast between the detailed foreground and the softly rendered background. Consider how these formal choices impact the overall reading of the image. Editor: It's interesting how the lack of color changes the focus to those very elements. I hadn't considered the background's contribution so much. Curator: Indeed. The strategic use of hatching and cross-hatching, viewed alongside the contrast in the background, offers a different reading than, say, Leonardo's original painting. Editor: Thank you. I’ll be sure to look at the other engravings with these principles in mind.