Classical art pieces are known for their timelessness and enduring value. Such artworks like The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo or The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli might always be remembered, appreciated and spoken about for centuries or even millennia to come. However, some artists from the past are not always recognizable by people of today. That’s where memes come to help! Through these elements of modern culture, classical artworks can be given a contemporary and fun twist that attracts new audiences.

If you’re a long-time reader of Bored Panda, you might’ve noticed that we love classical art memes. Well, just memes in general. Their relatability, perfectly captured moods and a sense of absurdity are what keep us coming back for more!

For today, we’ve gathered the best classical art memes, as shared in this Facebook group called “Classic Art Memes Moderated”. From sad faces to weird human-supernatural creature interactions, scroll down to rediscover the joy of art! If you’re a meme lover just like we are, don’t hesitate to check out similar posts with even more of these goodies here and here.

#1

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Cindi van Cleave Report

Alias-the-shade
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well maybe if your testicles were on your chest near your face we would have a lot more emphasis on them( note that this is comedic satire please do not send me to downvote hell I’ve been there once before it was not fun)

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#3

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Sergios Andronikidis Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first I was like why did they have to do him like that for all eternity? But you know what? I want my gold tomb to be just as awkward and relatable, bringing laughs for 3000± years to come!

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To learn more about memes and their influence on our communication, we reached out to Dr. Idil Galip, a Lecturer in New Media and Digital Culture at the University of Amsterdam. Her research focuses on the production of internet memes and the people who make them. She also runs the Meme Studies Research Network and enjoys writing and making memes herself! “Most of my memes are gripes about what I think is wrong with the world and myself, it's free therapy.” Scroll down for the whole interview!

#5

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Rebecca Pierce Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't mind me saving this to print, frame and hang above the kitchen sink 😅

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Memes have become a common sight in today's online culture. From humorous one-liners to relatable situations, it's hard to scroll through social media without coming across at least one of these cultural phenomenons. But what is it about memes that makes them so well-liked? According to Idil, internet memes are very popular mostly because they are cheap and easy to make and distribute. “You can also put together a meme in a relatively short amount of time. Moreover, the ugliness, or even incompletion, of a quickly made meme is often celebrated for its humor and irreverence.”

#8

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Lindita Odjoska Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This would be funny if all the absolute horrific sh*t didn't happen in the US this past week 😩🙄

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#9

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Robert Kelleher Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, no you forgot 2016-2020 with all the quotes from the US president. I'm still trying to decipher them 😅

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The internet has undeniably changed the way we communicate and share information and memes have been playing a big role in this digital landscape. However, the concept of a "meme" is not unique to the internet era. Idil shared that while internet memes are obviously linked to the internet and digital culture, they have existed for as long as culture has existed. “If we are to take on Richard Dawkins's definition of the 'meme', then they are simply units of culture that are shared between people. This definition makes the history of memes much more expansive and far-reaching. Limor Shifman, who is a key figure in meme research, explains that internet memes are postmodern folklore. So, we could say that memes are inherent within folklore generally.”

#12

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Whitney Pritchard Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahhh the good old days! People really got out more

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While the popularity of memes shows no signs of slowing down, it might be interesting to know what elements are necessary for something to be considered a meme. Idil explained that if we look at academic research about the matter, the main elements of a meme are content, form and stance. “Although ultimately, a meme becomes a meme once it is shared with others. The logic of circulation, or sharing, is part and parcel of memes.”

While a lot of memes are created purely for entertainment, others can be used for communication and social commentary. According to Idil, memes play a variety of roles in today's culture. “They are fulfilling social, political, cultural and even economic functions. Something that surprises people is the fact that sharing a meme with a friend can be an act of friendship! I recently saw a tweet that described the TikToks that friends send each other as 'friend homework,' for example. Another significant role they play is that they facilitate the construction of identity, and community belonging. We can tell stories about who we are and extend narratives about ourselves and our worlds by making, sharing and engaging with internet memes. They're also a good way to kill time.”

#16

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Bruno Nöma Tomljanović Report

Ms.M.
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you play "Walk Like an Egyptian" please?

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#20

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Hani Schaduwloper Report

7773989
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sickle and the basket will be usefull in both cases.

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#23

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Cheesy LaVeda Report

Kat Pekin
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok but this is a legitimately beautiful painting. I'd love to get it for my Mum. Such a moving little story it tells. The proud and patient grandmother teaching the child to read, the attentive child cradling her baby doll but just obsessed with her grandmothers face.

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#25

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Emma Debay Report

Brittany Howard
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can always spot a Hieronymus Bosch painting right away. 😳

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#26

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Vicky Mullaney Report

#28

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Kevin Elliott Report

Alias-the-shade
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn you don’t have to attack me like that

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#30

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Whitney Pritchard Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm no quitter! ... Actually yes, yes I am. But not on the one thing I've been consistent at my whole life. No sir, I'm not giving up on desserts! Not today!

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#31

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Cheesy LaVeda Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welp, I'm saying this from here on out. Who's with me?

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#32

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Jason Jason Report

7773989
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could have something to do with the arsenic-laced wallpaper.

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#33

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Abby Allen Report

Kat Pekin
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok i know we are laughing at funny captions but come the f*ck on with this art. How can someone get this kind of emotion into a picture, into eyes!?! Artists are just utterly phenomenal.

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#36

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Tom Ponzio Report

Ashtray
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Literally me. I have had sleeping problems my entire life.

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#38

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Lisa Dona Report

7773989
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well there’s a spelling of deodorant I haven’t seen before.

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#41

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Kevin Elliott Report

Alias-the-shade
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well you didn’t have a conscious yet that’s suffers from existential crisis

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#43

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Ian Kelley Report

Meowmeow
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also have to kick litter out of the box, zoomies at 2, scratch the couch, and dip the piggies in my water dish. And unalive the house plants. It's a very busy schedule.

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#45

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Malinda Kester Report

Ray Arani
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those puppies look sassy and that rabbit looks like she threatening to pull the basket over.

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#49

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Sherry Loucks Report

7773989
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

”Could you make out while I watch and play with myself, hurr hurr?”

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#50

Funny-Classic-Art-Memes-Moderated

Kitty Johnson Report

JoyfulZebra
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I need to have my stomach pumped after eating 100 chicken nuggets in a single sitting?? Who could have guessed?!"

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Note: this post originally had 83 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.