Monday, March 28, 2011

La Giaconda


Caught amongst the fridge-magnets, the fraudsters and academics,
the backdrop to countless snaps: me in Paris, alongside that tower and the dancing legs, 
we have obliterated your enigma with our kitsch and theories, x-rays and refurbishments
We have forgotten your mask, your flesh and constraint,
we see only the opportunities for gaucheries and profit
Duchamp was right, once someone thought you had a hot ass, lady love






picture courtesy of http://magpietales.blogspot.com/

34 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

Yes, it all boils down to the fact that Lisa was a hottie. Super piece, Isabel.

Brigid O'Connor said...

Great piece, so true and I love the last line, great!

Everyday Goddess said...

excellent perspective!

susan t. landry said...

isabel, i enjoy seeing how you play with feminine iconography. it's interesting, also, since you use the word 'kitsch,' how readily female objets are transformed so completely into that cottage industry. and, as with barbie, the kitsch becomes the reality...and the element of parody is lost. when i see little girls play with barbie dolls, my heart aches.
in any case, i am pleased to discover you and your blog.
thank you,
susan

Jinksy said...

Delightfully irreverent look at an old master - er- mistress, perhaps? LOL

Nicole said...

Ha! The ending was golden!

Kathe W. said...

it all boils down to sex!Great take on Mona!

Kristen Haskell said...

Excellent poem and I have to agree the ending was perfect!

Helen said...

Getting it right ... you have certainly done that!

cosmos cami said...

I loved it. That last line changed the whole thing. A laugh-out-loud moment is best when you've already put us somewhere else entirely.

Berowne said...

"We have obliterated your enigma..."
Almost -- almost, but not quite.
Very enjoyable post.

Words A Day said...

really sharp and witty, and the voice in the last line, "lady love," is a brilliant turn!

Marilyn & Jeff said...

This is excellent, I love how your mind works.

Tumblewords: said...

Strong with a touch of twit-y. Love it!

Penal-Colony said...

Lovely work. Have you read Paz on Duchamp?

Anonymous said...

Great job, puts her back in her proper perspective. Great jog. Vb

Donna B. said...

whooo...(sizzle) nice hot magpie

AM said...

this is truly wonderful :)

earlybird said...

nice take!

Dave King said...

Delicious! Lick you lips stuff!

Tim Jones said...

This is an excellent poem, but I also want to say that I have just spent a very enjoyable 45 mins or so reading through many of your blog posts from the last two months, and I am amazed and impressed by both the quality and frequency of your posts! As someone who struggles to come up with two worthwhile posts a week, a blog like this is a real inspiration when my energy starts to flag. Thank you!

Isabel Doyle said...

Kind readers all, thank you for taking the trouble to read and comment on La Giaconda. I am worried that I may be generating a reputation as a poet who sees sex in everything, but truly I don't ... well there are a few things that remain celibate.

Susan, thank you for your comments and for visiting. I didn't link Barbie and Lisa in my mind but now that you have I can see the reverberations. I was also inspired by Robert Hughes's documentary 'The Curse of the Mona Lisa' (or it might be the other way around). It frustrates me enormously when people in galleries rush past great paintings to see the one in their guide books, and having found it, read the label and depart without actually seeing the painting.

John, I haven't read Paz but now will try to track some of his works down. I did discover a poet who runs seminars/classes at the Tate Modern,inspired by art works, which I thought was interesting. I am intrigued by echoes between paintings and writing. I would like to add music but although I enjoy and listen to a wide range of styles and times, my brain doesn't speak 'music' the way it does say colour and texture.

Tim, I am so pleased that you found posts that were interesting to you. I suspect my frequent posts are more revealing of a restricted life than much else. Please come and read again!

Cad said...

A well played Magpie ! LOL

Laurie Kolp said...

Love the tone... and great ending!

~laurie

Lyn said...

Clever and original..who could ask for more??

DebbyMc said...

"We have obliterated your enigma"--Haven't we, though...In our hell-bent quest to know her we have, I think, never really come close. Fantastic!

Louise said...

Oh yes, we forget that she was once alive and worth painting. Great finish

Reflections said...

Wonderful write... the basics!

Martin said...

Yes, it's amazing to think how a representation of a real person can become submerged beneath an ocean of opinion and speculation.

Carrie Van Horn said...

A hot Magpie indeed....love this!
:-)

Steve Isaak said...

Love the modern updating of Lisa's (current) art-fate.

Sue J said...

She has become a much-used icon. Nice piece.

anthonynorth said...

Got it in one :-)

Trellissimo said...

I like the Mags that don't take this very ordinary painting too seriously.