Femina 1 Modern Mona by Cindy Brendzel

Modern Mona by Cindy Brendzel

I was inspired by the story behind the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous paintings created during the Italian Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci. It is believed to be a portrait of Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo and widely considered to depict the epitome of 17^th century feminine expression. Is that why Leonardo kept the painting for himself?  Was he so taken with her that he couldn’t part with the portrait?

How would we depict the embodiment of feminine beauty and charm in the 21^st century? Would she be modest and demure as Leonardo’s Mona appears to be?  I doubt it. 

I wanted my Mona to be bold and brassy. For this make-believe portrait I made her literally busting out of a gilded frame.  She is a “more is more” girl with her long red fingernails.  

I used commercial cotton and repurposed silks for her outfit and lustrous hair, and I found cast off costume jewelry to complete the look.  I added a takeout coffee cup to confirm this Mona is very much of our time.