As the Louvre Museum navigates its Nouvelle Renaissance project amidst ongoing challenges, a surprising revelation has emerged from a recent visitor feedback survey. The survey indicates that 51% of male participants believe the Mona Lisa should display more cheerfulness.
After the departure of former Louvre Director Laurence des Cars in February, the museum enlisted the Institute for Social and Spatial Relations to conduct an extensive survey. This research, involving both multiple-choice and written responses, gathered approximately 4,500 submissions from visitors in the past month.
Despite longstanding complaints about the painting’s display room, a press release summarizing the survey findings revealed that over a third of male respondents attributed their dissatisfaction to the Mona Lisa’s perceived somberness. In response to questions from Hyperallergic, a museum spokesperson remarked, “Who among us has anything to smile about here?”
One comment from a 63-year-old American visitor highlighted his frustration, stating, “I spent all this money to be here, and we’re packed in like sardines to see this tiny painting, and yet she doesn’t even smile.”
Additionally, the survey noted that several men proposed replacing the Mona Lisa with a painting of a “nicer-looking” woman to enhance the visitor experience.
