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Art history can be an incredibly complicated topic and a really tough nut to crack for anyone who hasn’t spent years upon years learning the various intricacies and subtleties needed to master the subject.

Luckily for all art lovers who just haven’t got the time to understand all the ins and outs of art history, the internet has provided some hilarious and easy-to-grasp tips on how to recognize the work of famous painters. Here is a list of the funniest and most accurate advice, so that you can impress your friends and family the next time you go to a museum or want to talk about something impressive at the dinner table. Scroll down, upvote your favorites, and leave us a comment with your views about art, classical paintings and what you thought of these tips.

#1

If Everyone – Including The Women – Looks Like Putin, Then It’s Van Eyck

If Everyone – Including The Women – Looks Like Putin, Then It’s Van Eyck

Jan van Eyck

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    #2

    If It’s Something You Saw On Your Acid Trip Last Night, It’s Dali

    If It’s Something You Saw On Your Acid Trip Last Night, It’s Dali

    Salvador Dalí

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    #3

    If Everyone Looks Like Hobos Illuminated Only By A Dim Streetlamp, It’s Rembrandt

    If Everyone Looks Like Hobos Illuminated Only By A Dim Streetlamp, It’s Rembrandt

    Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

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    The person behind most of the art tips is Redditor DontTacoBoutIt. Unfortunately, their account now appears to be dead, but Bored Panda tried reaching out to them for an interview nonetheless. The tips have seen widespread success online, with over 8,800 upvotes and more than 1.17 million views on Imgur.

    The Redditor’s explanations about how well-known artists can be recognized at a single glance are as informative as they are blunt and funny. For example, you can know almost for sure that a painting was done by Peter Paul Rubens if everyone’s naked and they all have very large derrières (‘butts’, the word means ‘butts’). And if everyone in a painting looks a bit like Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin, then you can bet your hat that it’s probably Jan van Eyck’s work.

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    #4

    If The Paintings Have Lots Of Little People In Them But Also Have A Ton Of Crazy Bulls#%t, It’s Bosch

    If The Paintings Have Lots Of Little People In Them But Also Have A Ton Of Crazy Bulls#%t, It’s Bosch

    Hieronymus Bosch

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    #5

    If Everybody Has Some Sort Of Body Malfunction, Then It’s Picasso

    If Everybody Has Some Sort Of Body Malfunction, Then It’s Picasso

    Pablo Ruiz Picasso 

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    #6

    Lord Of The Rings Landscapes With Weird Blue Mist And The Same Wavy-Haired Aristocratic-Nose Madonna, It’s Da Vinci

    Lord Of The Rings Landscapes With Weird Blue Mist And The Same Wavy-Haired Aristocratic-Nose Madonna, It’s Da Vinci

    Leonardo da Vinci

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    So you can show off to your pals even more at your next soirée, here are some more facts to drop about Rubens and van Eyck (besides talking about butts and Putin of course).

    A Flemish painter born sometime around 1380-1390, van Eyck is known as one of the early innovators of Early Netherlandish painting and one of the most important representatives of what’s known as Early Northern Renaissance art. As a master painter, he was employed by John III the Pitiless, the ruler of Holland and Hainaut, as well as Philip the Good, the Duke of Burgundy. Van Eyck wasn’t just a painter, he also acted as a diplomat for Philip. 

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    #7

    If You See A Ballerina, It’s Degas

    If You See A Ballerina, It’s Degas

    Edgar Degas

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    #8

    Dappled Light And Unhappy Party-Time People, Then It’s Manet

    Dappled Light And Unhappy Party-Time People, Then It’s Manet

    Édouard Manet 

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    Kaisu
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would be unhappy too if I was trying to sit on the bench and enjoy my alone time and some random guy started hitting on me

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    #9

    If Everyone Is Beautiful, Naked, And Stacked, It’s Michelangelo

    If Everyone Is Beautiful, Naked, And Stacked, It’s Michelangelo

    Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

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    Kaisu
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know why my comment was down voted? I'm a queer woman myself, queer is a perfectly normal academic word to use (there's queer studies, queer literature studies, queer film studies). Queer is simply an umbrella term like the LGBT, only queer encompasses only sexualities while LGBT encompasses gender identities as well. I'm a queer woman and I'm attracted to women. Michelangelo was a queer man and he was attracted to men. The reason I don't use the word homosexual is because he never specified his sexuality and I don't feel comfortable assigning a specific sexuality for someone unless they have specified it themselves. Hopefully this clears it up for some of you 😊

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    Meanwhile, Rubens (who was also a Flemish painter) was born in 1577 and is thought to be the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens was a specialist in making portraits, landscapes, altarpieces, and history paintings of mythological and allegorical subjects. Rubens was also a scholar and a diplomat who was knighted by Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England.

    #10

    Dappled Light And Happy Party-Time People, It’s Renoir

    Dappled Light And Happy Party-Time People, It’s Renoir

    Pierre-Auguste Renoir

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    #11

    Dappled Light But No Figures, It’s Monet

    Dappled Light But No Figures, It’s Monet

    Claude Monet 

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    #12

    If The Images Have A Dark Background And Everyone Has Tortured Expressions On Their Faces, It’s Titian

    If The Images Have A Dark Background And Everyone Has Tortured Expressions On Their Faces, It’s Titian

    Tiziano Vecelli

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    M Dream
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #13

    Excel Sheet With Coloured Squares, It’s Mondrian

    Excel Sheet With Coloured Squares, It’s Mondrian

    Piet Mondrian

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    Greg Hoggarth
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine being able to come up with something so simple to execute as this and convincing everyone it is great art worth lots of money.

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    #14

    If The Paintings Have Tons Of Little People In Them But Otherwise Seem Normal, It’s Bruegel

    If The Paintings Have Tons Of Little People In Them But Otherwise Seem Normal, It’s Bruegel

    Pieter Bruegel the Elder

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    #15

    If All The Men Look Like Cow-Eyed Curly-Haired Women, It’s Caravaggio

    If All The Men Look Like Cow-Eyed Curly-Haired Women, It’s Caravaggio

    Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

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    #16

    If Everyone In The Paintings Has Enormous Asses, Then It’s Rubens

    If Everyone In The Paintings Has Enormous Asses, Then It’s Rubens

    Sir Peter Paul Rubens

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    natie marie
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What butts have you seen? These are normal to small sized butts.

    Kerridwen Parslow
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rubens was madly in love/lust with his younger wife, the very plump and rosy-cheeked Helene Fourment -- she was his standard of beauty and he painted her many times, mostly clothed (with her ample bosom front and center) but also, and famously, naked and wrapped in a fur rug. Being plump was a sign of prosperity and health back in the day for both men and women when many people starved. That's still true in many Third World countries.

    Wendy Newton
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's to depict gods and goddesses as they were decadent and powerful, not like the mortal plebs they ruled over, plump equals wealth and beauty., skinny equals poor and unattractive. Oh and of course they have to be butt naked!

    BusLady
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So odd that today, unnaturally thin women are considered beautiful.

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

    From now on if I'm having a bad body image day I'm going to replace "I'm fat" with "I'm Rubenesque!" 😘

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    Ericka Hokkanen
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ummm, those are realistic asses. Just wait, yours is coming soon to your pants :) Enjoy!

    Zeta Klk
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Enormous asses? Really disappointed in you Bored Panda. Why haven't you commented on the tiny penises in Michelangelo? Is that comment by any chance touching a sensitive subject about men's bodies? This is clear cut sexism... very disappointed.

    MagNat
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's smaller than half of what you see on the beach.

    Amoureuse
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some of these paintings make me wonder. Did people really just prance around naked a lot more than these days? Or was it more of a forbidden fruit -kind of situation? And yes, those aren't exactly enormous butts.

    Liz Myrick
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely not! These are allegorical paintings depicting Greek and Roman scenes, pretty much the only time it was acceptable to painted nude (and occasional figures like Adam and Eve). Often if a royal mistress wanted to be painted with her breasts showing, she would be 'Diana' or some figure. It was a way for artists to paint the human body and sometimes provide something 'titillating' while still being respectable art. There were some exceptions throughout the years but the painting "Olympia" by Manet in 1865 was considered shocking because it is simply a nude woman, probably a prostitute, staring at the viewer. Manet used the title 'Olympia,' an ancient Greek reference as a mask, but he was clearly simply painting a nude (it didn't help that Olympia was a nickname for prostitutes).

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    May Day
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like his paintings; he didn't try to "correct" or retouch but drew people just as they were with normal bodies. Very unpretentious. (My own interpretation)

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

    Ok, they aren't the butt enhanced Kardashians but they got butts. Better 'n mine!

    rhyan lumilay
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would like to also blow that big conch or something like what that guy is doing it could be so much fun!

    Val/Malibu/Dante/Bob
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read this and freaked cos I thought something inappropriate was in the painting..... I'm so sorry oh god I'm awful

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

    Big, beautiful women unite! Ruben painted real women with big butts, thighs, tummies and breasts. In his day it!, it was the norm. I call myself Rubenesquej. 😊

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

    The young lady in the upper painting seems to suffer from Hallux valgus (hammer toe). The one on the right in the lower picture, seems to have undergone a breast preserving cancer operation. But I guess those weren't invented yet... :D

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

    Rather than "enormous asses"; generally generous portions, well fed, but not morbidly obese. And a pleasant atmosphere.

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

    I find these body types actually very beautiful, it's sad that today we only consider one body type beautiful, there are so many of them to admire also I saw some people saying those are plus sized woman, in very good intentions but for me these are just woman who aren't skinny but also aren't fat, like, regular woman?? mainly the girl in the first painting, I think we are starting to see anyone that is not skinny as fat

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

    Wait a minute, I didn't give him permission to paint me in the nude!

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

    OMG bp didn’t censor the boobs! Think of the children! /s

    Mrta Brzoza
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, there is a description of curvy, plus size woman: they have shapes by Rubens

    Philippe Renoir
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like the Kardashians and J-lo didn't invent anything after all...

    Susann Campbell
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At my age now I'm a Rubens woman including the long hair that won't stay in place.

    Erik Lawrence
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's funny that people applaud the "realistic body type"... Your perception is modern. Remember "ideal" body shape has changed multiple times, over time. So what you're applauding is also what you're condemning.

    anotherboredpanda
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @2wheel the woman on the left does look very muscular in the arm/chest area. Of course I didn't think about the hard workers. But then again I never would've thought painters would paint people from the lower classes.

    Ruth Mathys
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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

    Rubens seemed to always paint plump. Plump cherubs is another example of his perspective.

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

    man if that blonde woman punched me in the face I would fall unconscious to the ground, those are some strong arms

    Bobbie Fay Brandsen
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Little in the middle, but she got much back! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X53ZSxkQ3Ho

    Annemarie van der Westhuysen
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad always describes Rubens as painting "lots of writhing pink flesh". Quite apt.

    Pat Gallaway
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thinking more like lumpy people who possess an adoring look at others?

    Laana
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ross and Rachel:”I like big butts and I cannot lie!”.

    Molly A. Block
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This painter has clearly never seen a real naked women before. Ever. He's that lame.

    Jenica Thomas
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not an art history major but I do know that many artists from the renaissance period used male models regardless of who they were painting.

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    #17

    If Every Painting Is The Face Of A Uni-Browed Woman, It’s Frida

    If Every Painting Is The Face Of A Uni-Browed Woman, It’s Frida

    Frida Kahlo

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    Molly A. Block
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Description forgot to add that there must be monkeys present, and shadow mustaches.

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    #18

    If Everything Is Highly-Contrasted And Sharp, Sort Of Bluish, And Everyone Has Gaunt Bearded Faces, It’s El Greco

    If Everything Is Highly-Contrasted And Sharp, Sort Of Bluish, And Everyone Has Gaunt Bearded Faces, It’s El Greco

    Doménikos Theotokópoulos - El Greco ("The Greek")

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    #19

    If The Painting Could Easily Have A Few Chubby Cupids Or Sheep Added (Or Already Has Them), It’s Boucher

    If The Painting Could Easily Have A Few Chubby Cupids Or Sheep Added (Or Already Has Them), It’s Boucher

    François Boucher

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    Mimi M
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I knew all of these except for Boucher. And yeah, the writer is accurate. Handy dandy, indeed.

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