Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Nothing gets the point across like a good slideshow. And Nicole Tersigni is creating the ultimate one. The comedy writer pairs classical fine art with modern captions, producing timeless pictures that expose the deep roots of mansplaining. She calls it ‘Men to Avoid in Art and Life’.
“I was fed up with the way men regularly explain my own jokes to me, so I decided to make a quick joke about it,” Tersigni told Bored Panda. “I did an image search for ‘woman surrounded by men’ because that’s how that moment feels sometimes, and one of the results was a beautiful painting of a woman holding her bare boob with men crowded around her. I paired it with the caption ‘maybe if I take my tit out, they’ll stop explaining my own joke to me.’ And it eventually turned into a thread with similar classic paintings and modern captions, and people really connected with it.”
Eventually, the thread went viral and literary agent Rachel Sussman contacted Tersigni to ask if she would be interested in making it into a book. She was!
The book went on sale on August 10th and due to an article in The New York Times which called it “razor-sharp”, it sold out its first printing within 48 hours.
More info: Amazon | Chronicle Books | Instagram | Twitter
RELATED:
Nicole Tersigni pairs classical fine art with modern captions to show just how condescending men can be
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
The series called ‘Men to Avoid in Art and Life’ has become so popular, it even got its own book
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
The hilarious situations include men sharing keen insight on the female anatomy and offering advice about horseback riding to women who actually own the horses they’re on
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Everything starts with the visuals. “The paintings come first, and I write the joke around them,” Tersigni explained. “I think the funniest jokes take details from what’s happening in the painting, so I like to start there and see what I think is happening based on their faces or the scenery.”
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
The writer looks for any paintings that have at least one man and one woman, where you can see their expressions. “You’d be surprised at how many classic paintings have women directing blank looks at men.”
She then works a joke around them. “Occasionally, I’ll have a vague idea for a joke and I’ll scroll through all my art until I find a painting that could work for it, but usually it’s the other way around.”
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
“I’ve spent many, many hours scrolling through art databases and saving any pieces that could potentially work in a huge file on my desktop called ‘Paintings’ because I’m very good at using computers.”
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Tersigni is really grateful for the overwhelmingly positive feedback she has gotten since the book was released. “I’ve had so many people sharing their own stories and experiences with me, and telling me how thankful they are for the book.”
“It’s nice to be able to laugh together about something that’s normally very frustrating.”
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
Image credits: Nicole Tersigni
People are absolutely loving the series
What do you think ?
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
I have a PhD in Soviet history. I felt that "wikipedia article I perused" one in my soul. Its basically a daily occurrence on social media at this point.
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
Oh and Dan Marsh, thanks fr proving my point. The USSR is not "coterminous with the Russian Empire" as at one point the Russian Empire also included places like Alaska and California. Its also a completely different style of governance and until the beginning of WWII did not include the Baltic countries, much of Western Ukraine or Belarus, which had been given to Poland and the USSR NEVER included Finland which the Russian Empire had ruled. But thanks for proving my point by expressing skepticism at my study of something you think is the exact same as Russia because you perused wikipedia.
Load More Replies...
Helen Haley 5 years ago
Maybe the title of the article shouldn't have read 'Mom uses classical paintings...'. Especially given the content. 'Writer uses classical paintings....' seems more appropriate since her being a mom has nothing to do with it. Identifying someone by their status or title in relation to someone else is demeaning. Especially when it has nothing to do with anything immediately relevant.
tuzdayschild 5 years ago
The first time a man told me to smile to be prettier, I didn't know it was a thing. I only knew it bothered me. If you don't like my face the way it is, then don't look at me.
L Venn 5 years ago
The trick is to give him the most demented smile you can muster. Perhaps he'll think twice before he does it again...
Load More Replies...
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
From a real conversation, on professional development strategies in our field: He: - "Women don't have the same intellectual capacity as men do. They are bad at mathematics, for example." Me: - "I have always been good at maths, I love it." He: "Well, anyway, I am more experienced than you are, since I am older than you." Me: "So how old are you then?" It turned out I am four years his senior...
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Another one, this time at a seminar about the very basics at work where the man explaining the system to an all-women audience ended with "I am not going to tire your brains with any more mathematics". One of the women in the first row had a M. Sc. in chemistry.
Load More Replies...
Aragorn II Elessar 5 years ago
Jesus Christ, this comments section does not pass the vibe check. The people who are like this and who argue with a post like this are not *men*, they are misogynist, sexist, assholes, shitheads, take your pick of the adjectives.
Load More Replies...
jk nbt 5 years ago
I am a man, but endured toxic masculinity for 10 years on one of my jobs. They hired an ex-navy lt. commander who retired early as an HR manager. He was convinced that the only kind of man who could work in that chemical plant and perform well was an ex-marine. He hired in 12 of them in the same month to staff a new plant start-up. They had many positives going for them such as maturity & senior enlisted rank levels after 5-10 years' military service, which are hard to get. That much said, they subconsciously formed up into a unit. Their attitude was that to make a crack unit up, everyone had to be ready to conquer Iwo Jima single-handedly. Anyone who didn't buy into their extreme value system and code was unworthy to be a member of such a top unit. I had to put up with their "tough-guy" act, bullying, & intimidation for 10 years. They despised women in the work place, since they were not ready to take Iwo Jima. They despised anyone with any education. It was horrible.
K. 5 years ago
Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m not you and I don’t have your experiences, but being educated and not holding so much hate and prejudice is enough for me to feel for them. It’s just an iota though, my patience is not what it used to be. Thank you again for pointing out toxic masculinity.
Load More Replies...
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Are there any female doctors here? How many times have you been asked by a male patient when the doctor will come?
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
I get "are you really the teacher?" from older male professors all the time. I'm 34 and have a PhD, so yes I am the person teaching in this room next, hence why I keep trying to shoo you out 10 minutes after your class has ended
Load More Replies...
Mimi M 5 years ago
That guy with a dead pigeon one grabbing her arm was more 'Here, take this stupid and repulsive gift, and now I can have my way with you - right?!?'
Pheebs 5 years ago (edited)
The artist captured that “why are you grabbing me?” look on her face perfectly. I could feel her annoyance.
Load More Replies...
K. 5 years ago
(1) I would rather see examples of people’s toxic behavior, how to differentiate between the person and the action, if it’s situational, how to react/deal with them, recognize it in yourself, and how to resolve them. That said, how do we know if something/someone is sexist? How do we know if we’re just too sensitive and quick to put a label on something? Is the individual that way towards all genders? Ex1. “Girls don’t...” Ex2. “Boys will be boys.”
K. 5 years ago
Samantha Lomb analyzed it in one of her comments. See that before you get in a tizzy. I’ll be carrying on with my day, until i get bored and end up here again. Wishing you good health.
Load More Replies...
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
I have a PhD in Soviet history. I felt that "wikipedia article I perused" one in my soul. Its basically a daily occurrence on social media at this point.
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
Oh and Dan Marsh, thanks fr proving my point. The USSR is not "coterminous with the Russian Empire" as at one point the Russian Empire also included places like Alaska and California. Its also a completely different style of governance and until the beginning of WWII did not include the Baltic countries, much of Western Ukraine or Belarus, which had been given to Poland and the USSR NEVER included Finland which the Russian Empire had ruled. But thanks for proving my point by expressing skepticism at my study of something you think is the exact same as Russia because you perused wikipedia.
Load More Replies... Helen Haley 5 years ago
Maybe the title of the article shouldn't have read 'Mom uses classical paintings...'. Especially given the content. 'Writer uses classical paintings....' seems more appropriate since her being a mom has nothing to do with it. Identifying someone by their status or title in relation to someone else is demeaning. Especially when it has nothing to do with anything immediately relevant.
tuzdayschild 5 years ago
The first time a man told me to smile to be prettier, I didn't know it was a thing. I only knew it bothered me. If you don't like my face the way it is, then don't look at me.
L Venn 5 years ago
The trick is to give him the most demented smile you can muster. Perhaps he'll think twice before he does it again...
Load More Replies... Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
From a real conversation, on professional development strategies in our field: He: - "Women don't have the same intellectual capacity as men do. They are bad at mathematics, for example." Me: - "I have always been good at maths, I love it." He: "Well, anyway, I am more experienced than you are, since I am older than you." Me: "So how old are you then?" It turned out I am four years his senior...
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Another one, this time at a seminar about the very basics at work where the man explaining the system to an all-women audience ended with "I am not going to tire your brains with any more mathematics". One of the women in the first row had a M. Sc. in chemistry.
Load More Replies... Aragorn II Elessar 5 years ago
Jesus Christ, this comments section does not pass the vibe check. The people who are like this and who argue with a post like this are not *men*, they are misogynist, sexist, assholes, shitheads, take your pick of the adjectives.
Load More Replies... jk nbt 5 years ago
I am a man, but endured toxic masculinity for 10 years on one of my jobs. They hired an ex-navy lt. commander who retired early as an HR manager. He was convinced that the only kind of man who could work in that chemical plant and perform well was an ex-marine. He hired in 12 of them in the same month to staff a new plant start-up. They had many positives going for them such as maturity & senior enlisted rank levels after 5-10 years' military service, which are hard to get. That much said, they subconsciously formed up into a unit. Their attitude was that to make a crack unit up, everyone had to be ready to conquer Iwo Jima single-handedly. Anyone who didn't buy into their extreme value system and code was unworthy to be a member of such a top unit. I had to put up with their "tough-guy" act, bullying, & intimidation for 10 years. They despised women in the work place, since they were not ready to take Iwo Jima. They despised anyone with any education. It was horrible.
K. 5 years ago
Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m not you and I don’t have your experiences, but being educated and not holding so much hate and prejudice is enough for me to feel for them. It’s just an iota though, my patience is not what it used to be. Thank you again for pointing out toxic masculinity.
Load More Replies... Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Are there any female doctors here? How many times have you been asked by a male patient when the doctor will come?
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
I get "are you really the teacher?" from older male professors all the time. I'm 34 and have a PhD, so yes I am the person teaching in this room next, hence why I keep trying to shoo you out 10 minutes after your class has ended
Load More Replies... Mimi M 5 years ago
That guy with a dead pigeon one grabbing her arm was more 'Here, take this stupid and repulsive gift, and now I can have my way with you - right?!?'
Pheebs 5 years ago (edited)
The artist captured that “why are you grabbing me?” look on her face perfectly. I could feel her annoyance.
Load More Replies... K. 5 years ago
(1) I would rather see examples of people’s toxic behavior, how to differentiate between the person and the action, if it’s situational, how to react/deal with them, recognize it in yourself, and how to resolve them. That said, how do we know if something/someone is sexist? How do we know if we’re just too sensitive and quick to put a label on something? Is the individual that way towards all genders? Ex1. “Girls don’t...” Ex2. “Boys will be boys.”
K. 5 years ago
Samantha Lomb analyzed it in one of her comments. See that before you get in a tizzy. I’ll be carrying on with my day, until i get bored and end up here again. Wishing you good health.
Load More Replies... 
Related on Bored Panda
371
331