Podcast Summary: New Books Network

Episode: Thomas Schlesser, "Mona's Eyes" (Europa Editions, 2025)
Host: G.P. Gottlieb
Published: September 9, 2025

Overview

This episode features a conversation between host G.P. Gottlieb and Thomas Schlesser, art historian and debut novelist, about his new book, Mona's Eyes. The novel follows 10-year-old Mona, who, after experiencing sudden temporary blindness, spends Wednesday afternoons visiting Paris museums with her grandfather instead of going to her psychiatrist. Through these weekly encounters with 52 masterpieces, Mona embarks on a journey through art history, forging a profound bond with her grandfather and gaining new insights into herself and the world.

Key Discussion Points

Genesis of Mona's Eyes

• Reason for Writing a Novel
  Thomas Schlesser, an art professor, wanted to find a new way to convey the emotion of art, beyond academic essays:

  "A novel is a perfect way to convey more emotions. And for me, that was very important. To avoid writing another essay on art history..."
  — Schlesser [03:04]

• Time Investment
  The novel was a long-term project:

  "I spent 10 years of my life. But I have to add that in parallel, I published three other books... but they were essays or a biography."
  — Schlesser [03:56]

Character Development and Inspirations

• Creating Mona
  Mona's character emerged from a blend of real acquaintances and imaginative elements:

  "Of course, this inspiration was full of my memories... But the characters are often a mix between people I used to know and people... in my life."
  — Schlesser [04:40]

• Choosing 52 Artists The selection was guided not only by personal taste, but also by narrative and character:

  "The choice was based on the character of Henry, because he's in charge of choosing the works... Henry is a mix between someone who is very classical and someone with a great opening of mind."
  — Schlesser [06:07]

Grandfather Henri and His Relationship with Mona

• Mystery and Pedagogy
  Henri is intentionally enigmatic—his deep knowledge and mysterious past create a unique mentor relationship:

  "Henri is a very special character because he's full of mystery... there is a game between Mona and Henry... The game consists in speaking as if Mona were an adult."
  — Schlesser [08:17]

The Teachings on Art

• Authorial Voice vs. Historical Fact
  The “teachings” attributed to artists in the novel are Schlesser’s own metaphoric distillations:

  "This is nearly always my own choice... My goal wasn't to explore the very official way of considering all those artists. There is a very subjective part."
  — Schlesser [09:59]

• Personal Favorites and Reflections
  Schlesser highlights his special connection to certain artists:

  "I conducted my PhD on Gustave Courbet years ago. So Gustave Courbet is a kind of member of my family..."
  — Schlesser [13:30]

  He explores how the art—and the artists' lives themselves—may differ from their public image:

  "There is a gap between the genius of some artists and their... position in their life. And of course, you cannot avoid those kind of issues when you learn art history."
  — Schlesser [13:30]

Experiencing Art: One Work at a Time

• Is It Possible to Focus on Just One Masterpiece?
  The novel's "one painting per week" discipline isn't always realistic for the author himself:

  "I'm not really sure I will be able to remain more than 40 minutes in front of just one artwork... Everybody should have his own way of looking at artworks."
  — Schlesser [16:01]

Multi-Sensory Approach

• All the Senses Matter
  Schlesser deliberately engaged senses beyond sight:

  "This is a multisensorial novel... when you are in front of a very good painting, all the aspects of your humanity... are stimulated."
  — Schlesser [17:25]

  Notably, this includes touch (even when forbidden in museums!), music, and scent:

  "...sometimes I feel like touching them. But don't do it at the Art Institute of Chicago."
  — Schlesser [17:25]

Teaching Art in Life and in the Classroom

• Making the Visible Readable
  Schlesser’s teaching philosophy stresses articulating the experience of seeing:

  "...one of the rules: I want them to be able to put words on things, you know, to make something which is visible, to make it readable... That's very, very important."
  — Schlesser [19:35]

• Accessibility for the Visually Impaired
  Awareness of blindness shaped the book's descriptive passages:

  "I wanted it to be accessible by people who... could be visually impaired. And so when I was writing those descriptions... I kept in mind blind people would be involved in this novel."
  — Schlesser [19:35]

Family Dynamics in the Novel

• Mona’s Parents
  Schlesser discusses integrating real societal issues like alcoholism:

  "The problems of alcoholism, for example, are very, very often present in the society, and I know them... The father of Mona is someone who is a bit weak in comparison with the grandfather, but is extremely moving."
  — Schlesser [21:30]

• Generational Relationships
  The deeper bond between Mona and her grandfather, compared to that between parents and their children, reflects Schlesser’s observations:

  "The relationship between little children and grandparents is sometimes really better than the relationship between children and their parents."
  — Schlesser [21:30]

• The Grandmother’s Necklace
  Family memory and love are symbolized through Mona’s cherished necklace:

  "The necklace is simply a kind of materialization of the secret link and the love there is in a family... this necklace, this is a kind of link between Earth and paradise."
  — Schlesser [23:37]

The Future: New Projects

• Next Book on Mary Cassatt Schlesser is working on a monograph about Mary Cassatt:

  "I am now writing [a] monography on Mary Cassatt, a fascinating impressionist artist..."
  — Schlesser [24:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "A novel is a perfect way to convey more emotions. And for me, that was very important." — Thomas Schlesser [03:04]
• "I conducted my PhD on Gustave Courbet years ago. So Gustave Courbet is a kind of member of my family." — Thomas Schlesser [13:30]
• "I wanted it to be accessible by people who... could be visually impaired." — Thomas Schlesser [19:35]
• "The relationship between little children and grandparents is sometimes really better than the relationship between children and their parents." — Thomas Schlesser [21:30]
• "This necklace… is a kind of link between Earth and paradise." — Thomas Schlesser [23:37]

Important Timestamps

• [01:20] – Introduction to Thomas Schlesser and Mona’s Eyes
• [03:04] – Why Schlesser wrote a novel, not another art history essay
• [04:40] – Inspirations behind Mona and other characters
• [06:07] – How the 52 featured artists were selected
• [08:17] – Understanding Mona's grandfather, Henri
• [09:59] – Are the artists’ teachings fact or fiction?
• [13:30] – Personal favorites among the 52 artists and their teachings
• [16:01] – Discussing the "one work per week" museum approach
• [17:25] – The role of all five senses in the novel
• [19:35] – Teaching art: putting words to the visible; accessibility for the blind
• [21:30] – Portrayal and importance of Mona’s parents and family relationships
• [23:37] – The symbolism of Mona’s grandmother’s necklace
• [24:51] – Schlesser’s next project: a book on Mary Cassatt

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, thoughtful, and imbued with a deep passion for art and storytelling. The host, G.P. Gottlieb, maintains a tone of admiration and curiosity, while Schlesser speaks reflectively, blending personal anecdotes, scholarly insight, and empathy for both his characters and readers.

This episode offers an engaging and intimate exploration of Mona’s Eyes, revealing both its artistic and humanistic heart—a tapestry of art history, memory, sensory experience, and the ties that bind generations.