Benjamin & Mechanical Reproduction

The Mona Lisa one of the most seen and well-known pieces of art in the world, painted in the early 16^th century by Italian artist and philosopher Leonard de Vinci, estimated in value of something in the region of $100 million. The original painting is stored and exhibited in the Louvre, Paris. 

The image of the Mona Lisa has been reproduced, re-interpreted and re-distributed around the world in the form of mugs, t-shirts and new pieces of art.  Walter Benjamin’s essay 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction' explores the idea that in an age of increasing technology with more ways to reproduce original art work and the impact this has on how the original work is perceived and viewed by the rest of the world. This reproduction also not only decreases the value as a cultural symbol but does it also decrease the actual value.  The ability to mass-produce work is in the hands of everyone, changing the traditional idea of taste and who are the taste setter. Traditionally it has been the upper classes the people who could afford high-class art, but it is now in the hands of everyone, from buying a print from an art exhibition to getting your self a Mona mug to go with your Mona Plate set.