Her Smile

The term "genius" is misused far too frequently to the point where it no longer conveys the intended meaning. But there can be no question that Leonardo da Vinci had an astounding mind and talent. His most famous artwork continues to enthrall packed crowds at The Louvre in Paris.

Because of his intense curiosity, Leonardo applied science, chemistry, and optics to his creative process. He also had a keen understanding of how the retina interprets visual information. His greatest accomplishment, the Mona Lisa, which took 16 years of laborious work to complete, is a shining example of this all-encompassing technique.

The sweeping biography of the greatest "renaissance man," written by author Walter Issacson, states: "The power of the Mona Lisa's smile is that it seems to respond to our gaze. What's she contemplating? She responds with an enigmatic smile. Take another look. Her grin seemed to waver. We look aside, but the mysterious smile stays in our minds as well as in the minds of all people. The coupled elements of motion and emotion that define Leonardo's art are more entwined in this painting than in any other. Leonardo became a forerunner of virtual reality as a result of his creation, a masterwork that welcomes and responds to human interactions.