Raphael thought Leonardo da Vinci’s colors were boring, and while Raphael isn’t the most popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Italian painter, he’s definitely on to something.
Enter unione. It’s basically the same as sfumato in its hazy smokiness, but with much more vibrant color. I like to think of it as seeing something full price one day, and on sale the next: similar, just better.
Happy Friday, party people! I hope you’ll catch this series’ second post while you’re still at bars serving twofer Fireball shots, so you can impress all interns just a bar booth away!
Sfumato comes from the Italian word sfumare, meaning “shaded off.” It creates a smoky haziness that blends colors without the appearance of brushstrokes. Leonardo da Vinci is best-known for using sfumato in the facial features of Mona Lisa, as well as other works.
The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911. Right off the wall. Some guy named Vincenzo Peruggia hid it in a closet, then walked off with it under his smock. Two years later, he wrote a letter to the director of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery saying he had the painting. He signed the letter “Leonardo.” He didn’t want France to be celebrated for housing an Italian work.
I guess I feel that way about clothes I can’t afford, but you can’t just go around stealing the things you want, Vinny! Look at Winona (don’t worry, girl, Wino Forever).
Marcel Duchamp takes the Mona Lisa to a whole new level.
L.H.O.O.Q in French sounds like “elle a chaud au cul.” She has a hot…well, behind. Nice, Duchamp.
Duchamp also translated the phrase as, “there is fire down below.”
Double nice, Duchamp. What would Lisa del Giocondo think about all that gossip you spreadin’?!
ALSO! Happy birthday, Duchamp!
I’m about to connect some weird dots, but GO WITH ME on this. It’s like Chopped: In this post, you must use The Golden Ratio, the Mona Lisa, and Jay Z.
Illustration of golden ratio, obviously.
WOMAN: I have given and shown you everything, with nothing to hide. There you are, Ivy, like the nombre d’or… Jay, how do you say nombre d’or?
JAY: “The golden number.”
Boom, Hov, LOVE IT. Your daughter is sooo perfect, she imitates immaculate proportions! Take that, Iron Chef Guarnaschelli — I am your new Chopped Champion! I’ll be around to collect my 10K this week.
Girl, thanks for making the smirk still one of the hottest accessories. 535 looks good on you!
arthipstory 