Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci (#1 Most Environmentally Impactful Painting)
Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci (#1 Most Environmentally Impactful Painting) Location: Louvre, ParisCO₂ Emissions: Approximately 108,400 tons over the past 10 years Focus: Preserving for Future Generations Counterpart: Zaria Forman – "Icebergs" Context & Connection Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (1503-1506) is a symbol of timeless beauty, mastery, and human ingenuity. Her enigmatic gaze has captivated viewers for centuries, embodying the enduring nature of art and culture. Yet, this masterpiece has become a pilgrimage for millions, with an environmental cost that reflects our modern paradox: the desire to preserve what is precious, while simultaneously contributing to its fragility. Zaria Forman’s Icebergs (2012) offers a haunting counterpart. Her large-scale pastel drawings document vanishing Arctic landscapes—majestic yet impermanent reminders of...