You may think that art historical paintings have nothing to do with life in 2025, but you would be wrong. The great masters from the past also had a thing for depicting humor and the mood of the day. So take a look at some paintings from art history that Gen Z can absolutely relate to!
Delulu: The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard, 1767
This pastel piece is one of the most celebrated paintings of the Rococo era, but look closely at the girl on the swing. Yes, her outfit is gorge, but look at how she’s flirting with the man looking up. She is legit lifting her legs so he can see up her skirt, flicking her shoe to get his attention. And, she’s doing all this while another man is pushing her. She has two men wrapped around her finger! Bold, confident, or delulu, we’re not really sure!
Cringe: The Scream by Edvard Munch, 1893
This is how we all feel when we want to die of embarrassment. Those cringey moments that happen to all of us… This painting is seen as a symbol of anxiety, something all of us who are addicted to our phones and social media feeds know all too well. That feeling when you get all hot and nervous when you’ve just experienced something cringe, this is the painting that embodies that.
Slay: Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent, 1884
I mean, just look at that outfit and the way she is posing, it’s hard to believe the painting is 150 years old! The woman in the artwork is Virginie Amelie Avegno Gautreau, who was a socialite and the wife of a French banker. The painting caused a scene when it was first revealed at the Paris Salon because the dress was seen as indecent. It is now one of the most acclaimed portraits in art history, so both Sargent and Gautreau really did slay!
Lit: Candombe by Pedro Figari, 1933
Pedro Figari was an artist and lawyer from Uruguay, did someone say epic side hustle? In fact, he didn’t devote himself completely to painting until he was 60. He went on to have works exhibited internationally, including in MoMA, so it’s never too late! This painting of a party scene looks super fun. Everyone is dancing and enjoying themselves and it looks seriously lit.
Vibe: Parsifal by Hilma af Klint, 1916
Hilma af Klint’s paintings have this relaxing trance-like feel to them that make us feel totally vibey and relaxed. She was both an artist and mystic and was part of a circle of women called “The Five” who were deeply interested in spirituality and even tried to contact higher masters through seances. In a time where we are all in touch with our spirituality, her paintings have a calm vibe that we all need now and then.
Text by Lizzy Vartanian
