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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

SmARTalec — Art Cartoons

March 26, 2020 by Melissa Muldoon Leave a Comment

Image Credit: H. Bliss (Modigliani, Léger, Munch, Picasso and Whistler cartoon) 

Today, just for fun…
let’s go a little art hysterical!

It’s time for a little levity in Art. These days we could all use a good dose of laughter.

Did you know that Art doesn’t have to be a dusty, recitation of intellectual facts?

No, not at all! You can always find humor in Art! And some of the most hilarious and imaginative parodies are based on Art produced by the great masters. If you are an art historian, the references are quite funny, but even if you don’t know Rubens from a Renoir, you can still get the joke.

FYI: First off, do you know the
origins of the word “Smart-alec?”

Smart-alec is defined in the dictionary as smarty-pants, smart-ass, and derives from the 19th “Smart + Alec,” a diminutive of the given name Alexander.

Research done by Professor Gerald Cohen in 1985 for “Studies of Slang Part 1,” as well as research by other historians, has shown that “Alec” was probably a real person, namely Alec Hoag. He was a clever man who, back in the 1840s tricked people out of money using his keen wit and clever insights into social behaviors. He and people like him were given the nickname “Smart Alec” by the police for being too smart for his own good. Hence the phrase—“Don’t be a Smart Alec”—was invented.

Now let’s take a look at some SmARTalec takes on art!

If this doesn’t brighten your day and put a smile on your face… I don’t know what will! Here is a series of parodies featuring the ever-delightful Mr. Bean rendered in some of the world’s most famous paintings.

And now for some more “SmARTY-pants jokes!

In the comments box below, let me know your favorite parodies and if you recognized the paintings and artists that are being poked fun of!

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Mark Anderson

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Gary Larson

Image Credit: Shannon Wheeler

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Reynolds

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Scot Hilburn

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Bizarro Comics

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Scott Hilburn

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Pinterest

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Pinterest

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Pinterest

art-cartoons-parody-arthistory-comic-origins-word-smartalec
Image Credit: Pinterest

Image Credit: Chas Addams, 1979 — “I think you know everybody”

Yours in smART history!

Be sure to share this post with someone
who needs a little smARTY Art today!

Find Art of Loving Italy on Facebook!

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Filed Under: Modern, 18th, 19th, Contemporary Tagged With: Art comics, Art parody

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The Matta Book Club returns this fall with a new n The Matta Book Club returns this fall with a new novel!! 

More details and the big reveal of the title and the author and details how to sign up for the book club will come next week in a post on the StudentessaMatta.com website... so stay tuned. 

Currently, I'm still in Italy wrapping up a very successful language program in Arezzo! We had a wonderful time!

Now I'm at the beach and currently finishing up the next book club read! LOL

What I can tell you about the novel is that it is a contemporary adventure/murder mystery set in Italy, that takes you from Monte Carlo to London and to France where two thieves board the Orient Express to Venice as they track down Casanova's diary. 

Next week you will have the chance to sign up for group book club meetings of up to 3 or 4 readers, or individual sessions. The novel is available in print and audio and it is my recommendation, with plenty of lead time to read the novel during the summer months prior to the October start date, so that we can really dive into the story, and plot, and work on grammar and idioms.

Stay tuned! State sintonizzati! A presto!
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Buongiorno principessa! Siamo pronti per il mare! Buongiorno principessa! Siamo pronti per il mare! 😃

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