It’s no surprise that we’re turning classic art into memes nowadays, because it often seems like nothing on the internet is immune to meme culture. But as you’ll see from this list, these beautiful pieces of art can be quite hilarious! And considering the fact that Classic Art Memes Group has amassed over 188K members, and Classic Art Memes has a whopping 270K members, there are clearly plenty of art lovers who can find comedy in these pieces.
Despite the fact that we’re supposed to take art museums seriously, I’m sure many of us have had the experience of seeing a painting or sculpture that looked like it was begging for a funny caption. Or perhaps you spotted a portrait that looks eerily similar to someone you know in real life or your favorite celebrity. I’m sure Van Gogh and Michelangelo wouldn’t mind going viral for their work!
Whether you live for visiting art museums or you begrudgingly agree to be dragged through them with your partner while you’re on vacation, there are plenty of reasons why we should all take some time to look at magnificent art. And according to Forbes, taking a trip to an art museum might even make you happier.
The first reason why is because it’s often a rewarding experience. Even if you didn’t particularly love the art, you probably learned something new! And you probably also saw many things that you’ve never seen before. Life experiences like this can be enriching, especially if you now have something to talk about with the art lovers in your life.
If you’re stressed out, you might want to buy tickets to your local art museum as soon as possible. Forbes notes that a stroll through an art museum might even reduce your cortisol levels and help your stress melt away. How can you be anxious about meeting your quarterly goals at work when you’re strolling through a silent gallery and staring at stunning paintings? A visit to a museum is a great time to set aside your worries and slow down for a few hours.
Next, Forbes notes that visiting an art museum can help you feel less isolated. In recent years, loneliness has become an epidemic, particularly amongst young adults. And anything we can do to combat that loneliness will be beneficial. So calling up a friend and buying them a ticket to your local art gallery can be a great way to have a lovely afternoon. Even if you don’t have anyone to go with, feel free to visit the museum alone! You can always strike up a conversation with another visitor or try to get involved volunteering at the museum to meet new people.
Now, if you’re a huge fan of classical art, you might be wondering if turning these gorgeous pieces into memes is somehow devaluing them. Lucky for us, Francesca Testa at Cartellino has written a piece on exactly this topic. And one point that she brings up is that memes represent culture in the same way that art does. We like or share posts because they relate to us, in the same way that we love pieces of art that speak to us. Sure, memes might not be hanging up in many galleries, but is there anything wrong with mixing our current culture with culture from the past?
Memes can also bring us comfort in the same way a beautiful piece of art can. If you see a painting that’s familiar, such as Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ or Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, you might enjoy the familiarity. And we can have the same experience with memes. You might see a trend that’s gone viral that you relate to and instantly feel warm and fuzzy inside when you notice it. So is it so bad to combine these two visual pieces that bring us joy?
