In a recent document release, the Department of Justice (DOJ) obscured the face of a well-known portrait in photographs sent to Jeffrey Epstein’s personal email. Despite criticism for disclosing sensitive details about Epstein’s victims, including social security numbers and unredacted nude images, the DOJ chose to mask the face in what seems to be a reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa.’ This artwork appears in a set of photographs emailed to Epstein in 2009 under the subject line ‘simply paris.’
The email, featuring several images, shows a young couple at notable Paris landmarks, such as the Arc de Triomphe and within the Louvre Museum. The woman in these photos has her face redacted, alongside an unidentified man. The altered ‘Mona Lisa’ reproduction was part of this collection, which included a picture of someone walking past the actual painting in the Louvre. The email, from a redacted sender, mentions, ‘We just walked around all over the city not just the sight seeing [sic]… we took like 1500 pictures so was really difficult to decide wich [sic] to send!’ Dated July 3, 2009, this email was sent shortly before Epstein’s release from jail following his Florida conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
The DOJ’s decision to redact the Mona Lisa’s face seems particularly bewildering amid allegations of exposing identifying details of about 100 Epstein survivors in their latest document release. A lawyer for one survivor stated that his client was named over 500 times. The New York Times reported that 40 images included unredacted nude photographs and the faces of seven individuals. Upon being alerted by the publication, a DOJ spokesperson indicated they were working on proper redactions.
This batch of Epstein files has also uncovered new links between the financier and figures in the art community. David A. Ross, who formerly chaired the School of Visual Arts MFA Art Practice Department, resigned after his email exchanges with Epstein were disclosed. Additionally, the documents revealed that Jeff Koons attended a dinner at Epstein’s residence after his conviction.
