The Penguin Family
These penguin reinterpretations are surprisingly fun art-history puzzles.
Juliana Motzko hides a lot of recognizable visual clues in them.
1. The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, 1632
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is a 1632 oil painting on canvas by Rembrandt housed in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The painting is regarded as one of Rembrandt’s early masterpieces.
2. Girl with a Pearl Earring, c. 1665
Girl with a Pearl Earring is an oil painting by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer, dated c. 1665. Going by various names over the centuries, it acquired its present title towards the end of the 20th century. The work has been the subject of various literary and cinematic treatments.
3. The Star, 1878
The Star, by Edgar Degas, is titled L’Étoile in French. We see a lone ballerina on the stage, the stage lighting shining brilliantly onto her and her performance. She is en pointe, balancing gracefully on one leg and maintaining a majestic pose. There are flowers on her white dress.
4. Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is an 1889 self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. The painting is on display in the The Courtauld Gallery. Vincent van Gogh portrays himself in a blue cap with black fur and a green overcoat with a bandage covering his ear and extending under his chin.
5. The Kiss, 1907-1908
The Kiss is an oil-on-canvas painting with added gold leaf, silver and platinum by the Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. It was painted at some point in 1907 and 1908, during the height of what scholars call his “Golden Period”. The painting depicts a couple embracing each other, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes.
6. American Gothic, 1930
American Gothic is a 1930 oil painting on beaverboard by the American artist Grant Wood, depicting a Midwestern farmer and his daughter standing in front of their Carpenter Gothic style home. It is one of the most famous American paintings of the 20th century and is frequently referenced in popular culture.
7. Frida Kahlo Self-Portrait
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artefacts of Mexico.
8. The Son of Man, 1964
The Son of Man is a 1964 painting by the Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte. It is perhaps his best-known artwork. Magritte painted it as a self-portrait. The painting consists of a man in an overcoat and a bowler hat standing in front of a low wall, beyond which are the sea and a cloudy sky. The man’s face is largely obscured by a hovering green apple. However, the man’s eyes can be seen peeking over the edge of the apple. Another subtle feature is that the man’s left arm appears to bend backwards at the elbow.