Let’s also take a moment to appreciate medieval art for what makes it so special, aside from its meme-ability. According to Art In Context, art from the dark ages spans such a long period of time that it can be broken down into several distinct periods and styles, including Early Christian Art, Byzantine art, Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque art, and Gothic art. Various regions in Europe also had their own unique artistic styles that overlapped in time period with the styles of other countries. Medieval art featured a variety of mediums, such as sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, tapestries, metalworks, and stained glass. Some pieces even utilized precious metals, ivory carvings, enamel and embroidery, and these works were seen as more valuable than simple paintings and sculptures.
As with any time period, the art of medieval times reflects the social structures and views held by the people in those times. Most of the art that emerged during the dark ages was religious in nature and featured Catholic subjects and themes. There were also many conflicts within society between the peasants and the upper classes who controlled their land. Art was also important to be able to convey messages, as many people could not read. Illuminated manuscripts became very important for this reason.
We are very lucky to be able to see this art from our phone screens without any fear of plagues or imminent village pillaging; that safety allows us to find humor in these masterpieces from the middle ages. Keep upvoting the memes you find particularly relatable, and if you’ve thought of any more hilarious medieval reactions, feel free to share them down below! If you want to see even more of these images, you can follow Official Medieval Reactions on Instagram right here, and if you’d like to check out a Bored Panda article featuring similar memes, but of classical artwork, you can find that story right here.
