The Mona Lisa Has Numbers and Letters Painted on Her Eyes: What is the Symbolism?

The Mona Lisa painting is 500 years old. It has long mystified art historians. There is not yet a definitive answer about who the woman portrayed in the Mona Lisa is or if the painting was even based on a real person.

Clues in Mona Lisa's Eyes?

And now it has been revealed that the Mona Lisa painting contains numbers and letters painted on the eyes of the woman, reports the Daily Mail. The letters and numbers are not visible even when in very close contact to the painting. They are only visible when a magnifying glass or microscope is used to examine the painting.

What clues could the eyes of the Mona Lisa reveal? Did Leonardo Da Vinci leave some sort of hidden message in this famous painting? Perhaps he hoped that someday the clues would be discovered or he just enjoyed knowing himself that there were clues hidden in the painting.

The Daily Mail reports that the eye on the right side contains the letters LV, which likely stand for the artist's name. The left eye has letters that are difficult to read due to the age of the painting. The letters could be a "B" or "CE." The painting also contains the number 72 or an "L" and a 2.

Is it even possible to paint letters and numbers so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye? Leonardo Da Vinci left many mysteries about his work for future generations to try to figure out. It shows the whimsy and ego of the artist to leave his initials buried in an art work.

An Old Book about Art

This new discovery of numbers and letters on the eyes of the Mona Lisa came about after an old book was discovered mentioning this mystery, notes the Daily Mail. If these clues on the eyes were noticed earlier it is odd that did not get much public attention.

The world has long been fascinated with the slight smile of the woman in the Mona Lisa. It is as if she has a secret, something amusing her so she smiles a jaded, tiny smile to show her emotions. There have even been songs written about this mysterious painting.

A Song about the Mona Lisa

Nat King Cole performed the song "Mona Lisa" It was very popular in 1950. It is still interesting to listen to and to ponder the mysteries of Leonardo Da Vince and the Mona Lisa.

"Mona Lisa"

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you

You're so like the lady with the mystic smile

Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?

For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?

Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?"

The Power of the Mona Lisa

It is fascinating to see that a piece of artwork centuries old still has the world entranced. The power of art is enormous. It makes us think and revel in beauty. We long to know the full story of each painting and details about the person who created art that is beloved.

And yet artists love mystery and symbolism. They want each work they create to have depth and at least a bit of mystery. The art world has many secrets. And Mona Lisa's knowing smile is just one mystery that the world would love to know more about.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337976/Real-life-Da-Vinci-Code-Tiny-numbers-letters-discovered-Mona-Lisa.html

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/nat+king+cole/mona+lisa_20098067.html