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When you look at the works of the great masters like Rembrandt, Botticelli, Rubens, Holbein and a bunch of others, it seems like the reality portrayed there couldn’t be further from today.

Things like rabbit hunting, an afternoon tea in a busy salon, rocking full armor in historical combat, and pottery wheel throwing are now replaced by UberEats, Meta-connecting with friends (Facebook, what are you up to now?), treating yourself with a fancy avocado toast on a so-called healthy evening, and even fancier margaritas on the indulgent nights.

But creative people on the Reddit community ‘Tripping Through Time’ have found a way to make these classical paintings not just relevant, but basically translate them into the language of our times. How? By making memes!

So scroll down through the hilarious list of memes that transgress time and give us some universal and lasting things to cringe at! Psst! After you’re done, check out more art history memes here and here, and don’t be greedy, share the link with that friend who drinks their tea from a cup with Mona Lisa.

#1

The Nemean Housecat

The Nemean Housecat

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please, Mods, can't you let us give extra upvotes once or twice a day???

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#6

Damn, I Hate It When This Happens

Damn, I Hate It When This Happens

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#7

Medieval Artists Never Saw A Cat

Medieval Artists Never Saw A Cat

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Manndy Fisher
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just me or the "cat" in lower left looks like holding a rat-gun?

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OffKeySinger
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The lower right kitty reminds of me of the Jesus painting (Ecce homo) that got touched up by an amateur artist. Or this is the first picture of that grumpy cat type

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Dimaz Sembodo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jokes on you, that's how cats looked like hundreds of years ago

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Sue Sanders
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, no. The artist doesn't know what a cat looks like. Leave it at that.

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SAF saf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like that cat holding his pet rat over some dinner rolls.

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Yoinks!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lower left: Were-Cat with Chicken Legs Using Divining Rat on Night of Many Many Moons by Froderick Buweegul.

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Octavia Hansen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They just were crap artists . . . something about a plague made them rush the art . . .

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Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um.. I understand all artists have licence to paint their own reality on subjects..but some need to go back to "how to portray a real cat even in relaxed form' lessons

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buttonpusher
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The first one looks like my cat when she's waking up and does that stretch. The second looks like my parents cat cos he's a fat, happy boy.

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RoseTheMad
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Top right kitty is when you accidentally turn the front facing camera on.

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Sofie
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Sofie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I agree 😂 cats can actually take on many forms, and everyone on the internet knows that.

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#8

Zzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzz

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Julia Atkinson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Furthermore, I'm not "a pouty bitch who doesn't own a comb", I'm "a pre-Raphaelite diva"

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#11

Please Leave

Please Leave

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#14

The Other Side Is For The Cameraman

The Other Side Is For The Cameraman

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Bee / she/her
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was actually common during their time. This is why you don't put your elbows on the table--it can fall over.

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#16

Gotta Get Creative With All That S**t

Gotta Get Creative With All That S**t

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#17

Thanks I'm Cured

Thanks I'm Cured

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Eppe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And wondering why you didn't think of that yourself

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#22

Grammar

Grammar

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Jane Pearl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If he doesn't know how to use there, their and they're, is he really the one?

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#25

The Moment Of Regret

The Moment Of Regret

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Julia Atkinson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you realise that the hat that looked so flattering in the shop just doesn't look the same when you get it home

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#26

He Had A Type

He Had A Type

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Julia Atkinson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brilliant, although Mary Tudor, Edward VI and Elizabeth I might beg to differ

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#31

Every Single Time

Every Single Time

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#35

Word Problems

Word Problems

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#39

We Don't Do Science Here

We Don't Do Science Here

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#40

Listening To The Floor Creak Ominously

Listening To The Floor Creak Ominously

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#42

Infinity Crisis

Infinity Crisis

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#44

I'd Just Pretend To Be Busy All The Time

I'd Just Pretend To Be Busy All The Time

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#45

Relatable

Relatable

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your item costs $1,50. Shipping costs are $50. Order for $2498.50 more to get free shipping. Order now!!!

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#48

Life-Bro Tips

Life-Bro Tips

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#49

Richard In Accounting Approves Of This Meme

Richard In Accounting Approves Of This Meme

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#50

Intelligence

Intelligence

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Note: this post originally had 139 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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