Stupid Faces in Stunning Paintings: A Serious Exploration of Art History's Silliest Expressions

by Matthijs Van Mierlo

Overview

If you think art history is stuffy or boring, think again! In 50 accessible essays, digital creator and photographer Matthijs Van Mierlo invites readers on a compelling journey to discover the hideously humorous faces in great works of art and the fascinating stories behind them. From Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Swing to Johannes Vermeer’s The Girl with the Wine Glass, Matthijs thoughtfully pulls back the curtain on why eccentric, and sometimes bizarre, facial expressions have made their way into some of the world’s most celebrated paintings.

From classical artists like Raphael to modern savants like Vincent Van Gogh or Frida Kahlo and even unnamed masters, this book has a timeless allure. Witty with just the right amount of wryness, this collection will take readers on a hilarious journey through art history that they will never tire of.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798890034199
Publisher:	Page Street Publishing
Publication date:	02/24/2026
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 7.48(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Matthijs Van Mierlo is a digital creative and photographer dedicated to making art history accessible. The creator of The Gaze (@thegaze_art), he regularly shares content about classical art, film, and broader visual culture. He has contributed photography to books and projects such as Accidentally Wes Anderson (over 130k RTD sales). He currently resides in Antwerp, Belgium.