The Science of Beauty: Would Leonardo’s Art Go Viral Today? | By Lim Zhen Ping
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by @pxrvxnx |
Leonardo da Vinci is often remembered as the archetype of the "Renaissance man"—a painter, scientist, inventor, and philosopher whose curiosity knew no limits. Famously, he believed that art and science were two sides of the same coin. His works, especially the Mona Lisa and Vitruvian Man, were not just feats of artistic brilliance but studies in symmetry, proportion, and human beauty. However, in today’s digital age—where beauty is shaped by TikTok filters, Instagram algorithms, and AI-enhanced perfection—would his ideals of beauty still resonate?
It’s a strange yet fascinating thought. In an era where attention spans last as long as a 15-second Reel and aesthetics are dictated by filter trends, would Leonardo da Vinci’s art break the internet or get buried beneath the scroll?
What If the Mona Lisa Had Her Own Instagram?
Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is, without argument, the most iconic face in art history. But would she be just as famous if she debuted today? Perhaps, as a casual portrait on someone’s art page or as an AI-generated image on Pinterest?
Let’s face it: the Mona Lisa’s vibe is minimalist. Her look is bare-faced, softly lit, and tonally muted. There's no smudge-proof eyeliner, no rhinestone glam, no aesthetic pink glow. In 2025, that might not scream “engagement bait.” If you uploaded her to TikTok without context, users might scroll right past or type a comment like:
“She’s giving... tired aunt energy.”
“Slay, I guess?”
“Why is she smirking like she knows my secrets?”
But this isn’t just about style—it’s about how we define beauty. And how much that definition has shifted since the Renaissance.
Mona Lisa vs. The Algorithm: Who Wins?
Let’s play a little game: Mona Lisa in 1503 vs. Mona Lisa in 2025.
In the past, her beauty was considered transcendent. Da Vinci used artistic techniques such as sfumato to create soft transitions in light and shadow, making her features feel hauntingly lifelike. He captured a moment, a mood, a presence. No wonder people have obsessed over her for centuries.
Now imagine she’s thrown into today’s algorithm-driven platforms.
She’s up against creators with perfectly filtered selfies, golden-hour thirst traps, and 0.5 camera “accidental” bangers. Content that grabs your attention in two seconds flat—because if it doesn’t, it’s gone. Forgotten.
Would the Mona Lisa survive that test?
It’s hard to say. She’s subtle, mysterious, and emotionally complex. All beautiful traits—but not necessarily scroll-stopping ones. In a world where virality often rewards exaggeration, ambiguity might not cut it.
The Golden Ratio vs. the Glow-Up Filter
Da Vinci was obsessed with proportions. He believed that the key to beauty lay in symmetry, balance, and the mathematical perfection of the human form. His Vitruvian Man is a literal embodiment of this—mapping the human body to the golden ratio and visualising harmony in human anatomy.
Though, there’s a plot twist: we still use those same ideas today.
Modern beauty apps—whether it’s FaceTune, TikTok’s Bold Glamour filter, or Instagram’s smoothing tools—often follow similar logic. They slim the nose, widen the eyes, and balance facial proportions. Just like da Vinci’s sketches, they aim to "perfect" the face.
The difference? Leonardo studied real faces to understand the rules of nature. We bend those rules to fit trends.
In other words:
He used symmetry to celebrate what is.
We use it to create what isn’t.
It raises a huge question: is today's concept of beauty an evolution—or a detour?
Would Leonardo da Vinci Be on TikTok?
Honestly? Yes. And he’d probably be really good at it.
Da Vinci was a master of storytelling, curiosity, and innovation—all the things that thrive on social media. He would post time-lapses of hyper-realistic portraits, break down the math of facial proportions, and go viral with “Did you know?” videos about anatomy and science. Maybe even collaborate with digital artists.
In a way, da Vinci was always trying to share ideas quickly and impactfully. If TikTok existed in the 1500s, he would probably be the first to hop on.
However, his content wouldn’t just be viral for virality’s sake. It would be viral with purpose—to educate, to question, to push boundaries. That’s the part we’re still behind on.
TL;DR: Beauty Has Evolved, But the Curiosity Stays
If Leonardo da Vinci scrolled through Instagram or any other social media platform today, he might be overwhelmed by how performative and manufactured beauty has become. However, he would also recognise the fascination underneath it all.
We’re still asking the same core questions he once asked:
“What makes a face beautiful?”
“Why do we find harmony pleasing?”
“How do we express ourselves in the way we look?”
Da Vinci’s methods were rooted in observation. Ours, more often, is in modification. But at the end of the day, the pursuit of beauty hasn’t disappeared—it’s just changed forms.
And maybe, just maybe, the Mona Lisa would’ve been an aesthetic trendsetter after all—quietly iconic in a sea of curated noise.
Final Thought: Would You Double Tap the Mona Lisa?
She might not grab your attention in the first second. She doesn’t sparkle. She doesn’t wink. But if you paused—even for a moment—you would feel her saying something more.
Something that no filter could fake.
As real beauty sometimes requires a pause, not a double tap.
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