What Makes Medieval Art So Meme-able?

April 29, 2022 • View in browser

Good morning. 🌤️ Today we inquire why medieval art lends itself so easily to memification? Our writers in Europe look behind the scenes of the Hermitage Amsterdam's breakup with Russia and the opening of Prague's first private museum. Here in the United States, House lawmakers pave the way for a National Asian Pacific American Museum, and Judy Garland's dress from The Wizard of Oz is up for auction.

Also, make sure you check out this week's Required Reading to learn how we might one day be able to travel through time.

— Hakim Bishara, interim editor-in-chief

What Makes Medieval Art So Meme-able?

All over Instagram, medieval imagery has been remixed, captioned, and somehow reads as peak hilarious, depending on your sense of humor. | Alicia Ever

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Required Reading

This week, Karl Marx was wrong about "primitive communism," Zoomers say they've had enough of TikTok, and great news: Time travel is within the realm of possibility. | Hakim Bishara

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"The Garden of Earthly Delights" Enamel Pin

Let art history guide your fashion choices this spring — celebrate the blooming season with this functional miniature triptych based on the iconic Hieronymous Bosch painting.

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TRANSITIONS

Cara Courage will no longer serve as executive director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

Lauren Haynes was named director of curatorial affairs at the Queens Museum.

Robert Steven was appointed director of the Portrait Gallery of Canada.

Jonathan M. Tisch was elected board chair at the Shed.

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Catherine Blackburn; Laura Ortman; Rainer Posselt; Ilgavak, Peter Williams; Tania Willard, and Sara Siestreem were named Forge Project’s 2022 fellows

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