Artsology

Advertising and Popular Culture Inspired by Famous Art Masterpieces

There are numerous works of art that have become such famous and iconic images that they take on a new life in the form of copies, adaptations, and parodies, among other things. Famous art works get referenced in advertising, illustrations for articles in magazines, and even a moment in a popular movie was based on a famous painting. Check out the advertising and other miscellaneous images that we found, and see which famous art works provided the inspiration.

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This magazine advertisement for the Honda Accord had the catch phrase: "Thoughtful, through and through." They're obviously thinking about Rodin's "Thinker."

Honda Car ad that mimics Rodin's Thinker Sculpture

This advertisement for Gateway Computers suggested that their customized options would make their customers smile ... suggesting that their customers includes Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa ... ?

Gateway Computers ad that mimics da Vinci's Mona Lisa



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This was an illustration in a newspaper accompanying a business article. This drawing of a construction worker pointing at the factory is meant to imply his fear of that factory. How do we know this? Because it is based on Henri Rouseeau's famous painting "The Dream," where a woman in a jungle is pointing at the source of her fear - a pair of lions.

Newspaper editorial cartoon next to Henri Rousseau painting The Dream

Then of course there's the well-known match-up of Macaulay Culkin in the movie "Home Alone," in which he does his best Edvard Munch "Scream" on several occasions.

Macaulay Culkin doing his Edvard Munch Scream impersonation