La Joconde was still waiting for me to visit her. Me and thousands of other people too. Sadly, I couldn’t visit her until later in the day. I was like a child on Christmas Eve, waiting for Santa Claus. My time will come, that say.
Earlier that day, we explored the city a bit more. An excursion with new eyes after hunting for new glasses. At the 3rd arrondissement, we found what we were looking for. New frames, not for me but…
…suddenly they added color to everyday life. Color on streets along the end of the rainbow. The treasure was there somewhere. The holy grail perhaps? 😉
With new spectacle frames procured, I prepared for my date with La Gioconda and others in the Louvre1. My expectations were like a fragrant cloud in my art historical mind. With the colors of the rainbow in my memory, there was a line as long as the Great Wall of China outside the pyramid’s entrance.
I could almost smell the 400-year-old tempera. Without a map or compass, we still knew where to go first. With brisk steps along the picture-covered walls of the labyrinth we barely made it through.
My date with Mona Lisa2 had begun. But not just for me. Hundreds of other people dated her. Her mysterious smile kept us at bay. Imprisoned behind tempered glass and guards everywhere – she hadn’t time for a chat.
One step forward, one back and some steps to the side. Same procedure for a while. Hands in the air and flashes everywhere. I needed a stair. Poetic lines, yes it is, but ten minutes later, the visit continued.
In room after room, painting after painting, and I could look at some of my favorite artist’s paintings. Masterpieces by: Leonardo, David, Caravaggio, Gentileschi, Titian, Rafael and many more.
Like a Formula 1 race through the history. I raced around sarcophaguses, sphinxes, Egyptian sculptures and ancient objects, everywhere. But the time was running out and we reached the finish line just after the white lady in marble (Venus of Milo3) said to us, “welcome back”.
– Yes of course, I’ll be back, soon. One day wasn’t enough. We needed more time! And the 4th day in the city of love and the date with Mona Lisa, ended up in the Carousel Garden and next day had more to offer. I promise!
…to be continued
© Björn Blomqvist 2024-04-29
- The largest national museum in France. Founded in 1793 and located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. ↩︎
- Mona Lisa (1503 – oil on panel) is the Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous portrait of, according to tradition, the Florentine Lisa Gherardini, above all known for her mysterious smile. Louvre (since 1797). ↩︎
- An ancient Greek marble sculpture that was created during the Hellenistic period. Between 160 and 110 BC. ↩︎
Some Kind of Word Artist 