Ken Burns Paints a Humanist Portrait on the Mind of Leonardo da Vinci

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As a lifelong enthusiast of both history and art, I must say that Ken Burns’ latest documentary on Leonardo da Vinci has been nothing short of captivating. Having delved into various aspects of American history through Burns’ previous works, it was intriguing to witness his exploration of a figure whose influence transcends national borders.

Ken Burns has stepped out of his usual Americana-focused content to produce a new documentary covering the life of Leonardo da Vinci. It’s the first time the 15-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker has covered a topic outside U.S. discourse, such as his detailed accounts on Jazz (2001), the American Civil War (1990) and Hemingway (2021), which have inextricably become textbook material in their own right — opting to instead add a humanist view on one of the most creative visionaries in history. Streaming now on PBS, the two-part documentary on the Italian polymath was created in collaboration with Burns’ daughter Sarah and her husband David McMahon.

Da Vinci’s insatiable curiosity transcended a single field, as Burns and his team delve into to highlight his persistent quest for knowledge, with a particular focus on things, concepts, and mysteries that had no significance during his lifetime, Ken noted in an interview.

He discovered the structure of the human heart, creating a model using ox hearts and dissection of humans. His work debunked the two-chamber heart theory proposed by Greek physician Galen over 1,300 years prior, revealing instead the existence of four chambers and an understanding of how the valves functioned. At the time, there were no surgical procedures on hearts, nor was cardiology a recognized field. Still, he gained this knowledge centuries before modern technology like microscopes or telescopes. I find it fascinating.

The documentary is centered, to some extent, on Leonardo da Vinci’s countless journal entries. In these writings, he pondered a wide range of topics such as the Earth’s gravitational forces, the internal structures of animals, and even detailed his methods for creating iconic paintings like the Mona Lisa (1503) and The Last Supper (1495-1498).

In conversation with Variety, Burns stated, “Among all historical figures I’ve engaged with, he’d likely adapt best to the present time.” He would express curiosity about our modern discoveries, questioning things like, “How did you manage the gravitational challenges when reaching the moon?

Spanning four hours and narrated by Keith David, Leonardo da Vinci available to stream via PBS.

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2024-11-21 23:57