Interesting article in the NYTimes today about the way that many tourists do not engage with the art in the Louvre, but instead photograph it presumably to process it later:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/arts/design/03abroad.html

This phenomena is hard not to notice — I have included a photo I took in the Louvre that was attempting to convey this. I think that something that adds to this tendency to click a photo and move on is that b/c of the sheer number of sights and museums to see here in Paris — many choose to save money by purchasing a “museum pass”  which allows for as many sights as you can fit into 4 days (or if time allows, 6 days.)  So this also feeds the frenzy to rush to the major attractions, take a picture and move quickly on to the next.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci - check!

And then there are the crowds… I remember seeing the Mona Lisa for the first time when I was 10 years old.  She was not behind bullet proof glass back then and my memory does not recall the masses of people that surround her now. As a child I was, like so many others, totally fascinated with her.  I remember passing back and forth in front of her, moving around the room trying to trick her ever watchful eyes. for years after I kept a postcard of the Mona Lisa on my bureau, and the fascination didn’t fade.  Back in Paris, I was eager to see her again “in person” – but she is quite the celebrity.  I could have elbowed my way up to her, but taking time to contemplate would be a near impossibility.

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