Beyoncé meets Botticelli

August 22, 2018 10:04 AM

How tabloid photos throw new light on old masters

The Twitter account Tabloid Art History juxtaposes celebrity shots with artworks they resemble. It’s a game that works because great art is universal.

posted by poffin boffin (18 comments total)

That Janelle Monáe pic is really cool. I have to think that was exactly the effect the hat designer was going for.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:09 AM on August 22, 2018 [6 favorites]

I don’t want to think about Harry Styles when I’m looking at Schiele, thanks.
posted by Segundus at 10:18 AM on August 22, 2018 [3 favorites]

yeah i'd rather look at a crime scene than at his hideous toady face, i wish they had chosen literally anything else.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:22 AM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

The Beyoncé picture is a portrait by Mason Poole, I'm not sure I'd call it a tabloid shot.
posted by octothorpe at 10:23 AM on August 22, 2018 [4 favorites]

One of my favorites of these: Zendaya out in New York City / Nike Adjusting Her Sandal.
posted by yasaman at 10:32 AM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

"That Janelle Monáe pic is really cool. I have to think that was exactly the effect the hat designer was going for."

That photo is from a recent Met gala whose theme was religious imagery, so, yes.
posted by corvikate at 10:44 AM on August 22, 2018 [5 favorites]

The Zendaya photo is from the same shoot and was a deliberate reference to Joan of Arc.
posted by Lexica at 11:44 AM on August 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

You can find anything to resemble anything, if you have enough photos and references to look at.

Also, if it is done on purpose, it shouldn't count.
posted by 41swans at 12:08 PM on August 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

You can find anything to resemble anything, if you have enough photos and references to look at.

Also, if it is done on purpose, it shouldn't count.

Is this not the purpose of art? I am confused. Please elaborate.
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:12 PM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Also, if it is done on purpose, it shouldn't count.

yikes this is like the core philosophy of r/creepshots
posted by poffin boffin at 12:21 PM on August 22, 2018 [4 favorites]

There are two different kinds of images here: 1. ones where the photographer was subconsciously or knowingly referencing an earlier work of art (like that Beyoncé photo), and, 2. ones where someone found a fun visual echo of a contemporary image via their knowledge of (or by scanning through) older ones. Heck even Google Image Search or some of the other nifty new machine learning tools could do the latter...
posted by PhineasGage at 12:21 PM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

I prefer the new masters over at /r/AccidentalRenaissance.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:28 PM on August 22, 2018 [5 favorites]

You can find anything to resemble anything, if you have enough photos and references to look at.

Human brains are reeeeally good at finding patterns. It can be both a strength and a weakness.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:36 PM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

A photograph depicting New Year’s Eve celebrations gone awry in central Manchester has been compared to a Renaissance masterpiece. I could look at it for hours.
posted by maggiemaggie at 2:27 PM on August 22, 2018 [6 favorites]

Human brains are reeeeally good at finding patterns. It can be both a strength and a weakness.

Well, also, there are some fairly accepted rules for directing the gaze in a picture, so it's not exactly surprising that certain poses/arrangements should recur.
posted by praemunire at 2:32 PM on August 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Hah I was about to post that old Manchester UK New Year's Eve photo! It is still my favorite after all the years. Here's a higher resolution version.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:52 PM on August 22, 2018

there's also that ukrainian parliament fistfight one that is absolutely chefkiss.gif
posted by poffin boffin at 12:43 AM on August 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

poffin boffin: I have no idea what you mean, other than it's a reddit reference. I don't really get reddit. Or creepshots. Ick.

Hermione Granger - my comment was for the purposes of this game. IMO It's not much of one, in that you can find anything to resemble anything, if you have enough source material. It is in no way a commentary on the purpose of art.
posted by 41swans at 5:17 AM on August 23, 2018