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Each year 11 million people trek to the Louvre to gawk at the
Mona Lisa. Many visitors clutch guide books in hand describing the painting. For some, it's the experience of a lifetime, one they'll talk about with friends and family for decades.
Yet some modern researchers say that the vast majority of people will never recognize the hidden messages in this painting. That's because those hidden messages are subliminal.
Buried below the threshold of conscious awareness, Da Vinci used techniques people never notice. Not only don't people know what they're seeing, they would be shocked to find out.
A surprisingly large number of famous paintings fall into the same category. That is, they employ subliminal techniques to enhance the effectiveness of the work or to encode messages within portraits and landscapes. No book, however, has ever attempted to provide an overview of the technical sophistication and arcane methods that artists worldwide have used to conceal secret meaning in their work.
Every Picture Hides a Story is the first book to expose the subliminal content in the world's greatest paintings. Titillating, subversive, and building on the groundbreaking work of pioneers of art criticism, this book will enable readers to view art masterpieces with greater understanding. And their enjoyment of these works will be exponentially enhanced.
This full-color book contains 86 images of the paintings and their details.
List of contents
Introduction
1. Leonardo da Vinci
2. Michelangelo
3. Raphael
4. Hans Holbein
5. Caravaggio
6. Titian
7. Artemisia Gentileschi
8. Diego Velázquez
9. Johannes Vermeer
10. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
11. William Bouguereau
12. John Everett Millais
13. Édouard Manet
14. Edgar Degas
15. Berthe Morisot
16. Mary Cassatt
17. Thomas Eakins
18. John William Waterhouse
19. Vincent van Gogh
20. John Singer Sargent
21. John William Godward
22. Gustav Klimt
Acknowledgements
Index
About the author
John Oluseyi Kuforiji is associate professor of economics and finance at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia.Anna Gabrielle is a former commercial pilot for a leading airline whose extensive journeys have allowed her to immerse herself in the world of art. Much like flying, interpreting art involves mastering spatial awareness and the ability to process various components of information to understand the environment. These skills, along with her aptitude for identifying patterns, have enabled her to uncover the intricate symbolism in Leonardo da Vinci’s works. As the co-author of EVERY PICTURE HIDES A STORY, Anna has explored the rich tapestry of art symbolism in famous paintings. She holds a certificate in World Art History from the Smithsonian Institution and a Master's degree in English, with her primary area of research focusing on the hidden symbolism in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings.. Throughout her travels, Anna's interactions with renowned art experts globally have greatly enriched her understanding of various artistic traditions and the complex symbolism of diverse cultures. Her unique background and expertise allow her to uncover the hidden meanings and influences in Leonardo da Vinci’s works.
Summary
No book, however, has ever attempted to provide an overview of the technical sophistication and arcane methods that artists worldwide have used to conceal secret meaning in their work. Every Picture Hides a Story is the first book to expose the subliminal content in the world’s greatest paintings.
