Trying to Have a Sense of Humor

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Close Up Detail of Old King Cole (aka John Jacob Astor IV) by Maxfield Parrish

We could all use a tickle of the funny bone, especially in challenging and onerous times. We don’t often find that glimpse of humor in paintings, a medium that more often conveys more serious sentiment. However, with a little searching, we can find a chuckle here and there.

Maxfield Parrish included a humorous nod when he created the Old King Cole mural for the Knickerbocker Hotel. The three paintings that comprise the mural were commissioned by John Jacob Astor IV with the condition that his visage be used for the King. Parrish accepted the condition and combined it with a bet among fellow painter friends, who challenged him to paint what they felt was unpaintable—the act of breaking wind. Parrish won the bet. See more at: Passive Aggressive Art.
La Clairvoyance 1936 René Magritte