Mona Lisa: multiple meanings of an enigmatic smile

Abstract

This article reviews the history of the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa or Gioconda, sixteenth century, aiming to discuss about some of the multiple senses (or discourses) around its meaning, with the support of the French branch of the Discourse Analysis, especially based on concepts developed by D. Maingueneau. As it is characteristic of the work of art, the senses are open, which does not exclude the possibility of detachment, among which we accentuated the “Mona Lisa smile” as one of the main traits of the authorship by Leonardo Da Vinci and, simultaneously, a trait propitious to aphorisation. Thus, the work of art is releasing of the exclusive authorship of Da Vinci and it suscitates several rereadings, which help composing a discursive ethos around this consecrated painting and, at the same time, which make circulating distinct stereotypes.