Art historian and the host of the "Art Curious" podcast, Jennifer Dasal, tells Bored Panda that to her, art memes are very fun and super valid.

"What it does is provide art accessibility to those who might not see these works otherwise—neither in museums nor in books. And anything that makes it further accessible is a win, in my book. It also allows us to understand and relate to “older” art in a new way—and isn’t that lovely to be able to enjoy a classic work in a contemporary fashion?"

She further explains that "one of the struggles that has plagued the art world for a very long time – hundreds of years, really – is the idea that art is inaccessible to a vast portion of people. The ability to purchase art, commission art, and in some cases even SEE art (especially outside of a religious setting, perhaps) meant that you had to have the money to do so.

Sadly, this way of thinking has persisted into the 20th and 21st centuries. It isn’t helped by the skyrocketing ticket prices at many museums— where you’re spending $25 or more per ticket for your entrance fee. All of this can hinder the ability of a family to even enjoy and experience the history of art in the first place."

Luckily, this is where these classical memes come in—making masterpieces easily available to vast amounts of people without having to pay any exhibition fees.

According to Dasal, the art that is depicted in these memes is sometimes thought of as "stuffy, old, or a scene that does not have a lot of basis or interest in/for our everyday lives"

However, captioning them in a funny way and relating them to current events shows how much more common modern people have with the artists of the past. "The classical and the contemporary are still about our human experience, and those experiences remain remarkably similar throughout time," says Dasal.

She concludes by saying that she appreciates these modern spins on art because they allow greater exposure to the public population. "I am asked how I feel about things like this –digital art, exhibitions, NFTs, and so forth- all the time, particularly if these are worthy additions to our world.

My answer is that I always appreciate them, because it allows a greater population to enjoy exposure to art and to connect with history. That is only a good thing, in my book. And if classical art memes end up inspiring folks to check out a book on our local library, to attend a free gallery installation, or listen to an art podcast – hint hint – all the better! "

Depending on what subjects paintings depict, art can actually make us feel a whole range of emotions. For example, a drawing of a peaceful landscape may evoke tranquility and serenity in us. Meanwhile, a painting of a violent scene may leave us horrified and disgusted. 

Despite the latter, the emotions that art evokes in people are mainly positive. In a study on how viewing art affects feelings, Professor Lauri Nummenmaa from the University of Turku, Finland, found that “Even though many of the pieces handled sad or scary topics, the emotions that the people experienced were mainly positive.”

One reason why our brains are happy when we view these creations is because they allow us to take our minds off overwhelming and stressful things. Taking five minutes to really look and think about the piece, its colors, the landscape, and its objects makes people instantly feel better.

It can also be the effect of the immediate release of dopamine we get when we see artwork that is beautiful to us or the fact that it makes us feel like we’re transported to another time, giving us some time to escape from everything.

In the meantime, it provides some exercise for our brains, too. When our eyes gaze upon it, our mind instantly starts looking for patterns, shapes, and anything else that could be familiar to us, making us feel more connected to the piece. Even if we can’t decipher it, our nogging continues to operate, trying to find meaning in what is in front of us.

It was even found that a single hour in a museum changed the way visitors thought and felt. The participants of the study exhibited improved critical thinking skills, increased empathy for people of the past, and improved tolerance for people different from themselves.

Those who make art themselves often benefit even more from its positive effects. The boost in creativity it gives might be the main reason why. "Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world," explains Christianne Strang, a professor of neuroscience.

This extends to every type of visual creative expression, such as collaging, sculpting, writing, decorating baked goods, knitting, scrapbooking, you name it. "Anything that engages your creative mind — the ability to make connections between unrelated things and imagine new ways to communicate — is good for you," says Girija Kaimal, a researcher in art therapy.

Even though a person might not be the most skilled at drawing or sculpting, visual expression still activates our brain’s reward centers, which makes us feel good. Kaimal and her colleagues found increased blood flow to this part of the brain when participants were making art. This led them to suggest that getting hands-on with such crafts could even benefit people with health conditions like addictive behaviors, eating disorders, or mood disorders.

Strang notes that if a person is going through serious mental health distress, they should turn to a professional art therapist. However, when an individual is making art to boost their creativity, decrease anxiety, and adopt new coping skills, she says that they certainly should allow themselves to do that. Following lines, shapes, and colors lets people put their emotions into something concrete and visual—a sort of cleansing we can’t achieve with words alone.