Jean Margat invented the term
Jocondologie. He first used the term in the May, 1959, issue of the French journal
Bizarre which he wrote and illustrated, using objects from his Mona Lisa collections (shown above). I just learned that Margat died this month at the age of 100. I knew him as a collector of Mona Lisa objects, which he eventually donated to the Louvre in 2014. See this brief write up from the Louvre: “
Kitsch.”
I corresponded with Jean Margat for a while, and exchanged a few collectibles and photocopies of Mona Lisa materials. This was in the 1990s, so of course all was by postal service, with letters and packages crossing the ocean very slowly. I am not at all sure that he ever adopted the Internet for his many Mona Lisa contacts, but I had lost touch with him by the time that could have happened.
Jean Margat was more seriously known for his engineering accomplishments, as shown in the following google page as it appears this week:
Mona Lisa in Paris
Thinking of Jean Margat and his Mona Lisa collection reminds me of all the time that I spent in Paris searching for (or just observing) Mona Lisa appearances. I also remember the one time that I met Jean Margat. At his suggetion, we spent an hour or two over coffee at the famous Procope cafe and restaurant in Paris. He brought several large binders full of wonderful Mona Lisa images and objects to show me, and we enjoyed a conversation about his collections. Thinking of him, I’ve been looking over some of my old photos of Paris and Mona Lisa art. Here are a few examples.
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| A memorable mural on a wall in Paris in 2008. |
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Post cards for sale: I obtained many of my Mona Lisa cards by searching the post card stands
throughout Paris. |
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| A Mona Lisa in a shop window. |
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A Mona Lisa magazine cover. I think Jean Margat sent me this image.
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| I think Jean Margat also sent me this magazine cover. |
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| My most recent visit to the Mona Lisa. It’s way too crowded! |
Blog post and photos © 2008-2025 mae sander
