SmARTalec Art Cartoons and Parodies

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.