12 Hidden Messages in Famous Paintings That Will Blow Your Mind
Since the beginning, art has been more than just pictures on a wall. People have been interested in the hidden meanings, symbols, or clues in many great paintings for hundreds of years.
- Tricia Quitales
- 5 min read
This article delves into 12 well-known paintings and the secrets or hidden messages they contain. There are coded symbols, secret meanings, and references to deeper ideas in these works of art by well-known artists that go beyond what they seem to show. Some of these messages have been kept for hundreds of years and were only found after a lot of research.
1. “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci on Wikimedia
There are many secret things in “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. One of the most interesting ideas is that the person sitting next to Jesus, who most people think is John, is actually Mary Magdalene. Some people think the painting has a hidden message about the connection between Jesus and Mary that has caused a lot of debate over the years.
2. “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci
Chinar Minar on Pexels
People have always liked the “Mona Lisa” for its mysterious smile, but there’s more to this famous picture than meets the eye. Some experts think that the scenery in the background has hidden messages. For example, there is a bridge that seems to fit with mathematical ideas like the Golden Ratio. People have also considered the smile a sign of happiness and sadness, which suggests a greater emotional complexity.
3. “The Scream” by Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch on Wikimedia
In “The Scream,” Edvard Munch shows psychological angst through bright colors and distorted shapes. A real face of pain is hidden in the spinning sky, showing how strongly the main character is feeling. Some art historians also think that a volcanic eruption affected Munch’s use of the sky, combining a natural disaster with his own pain.
4. “The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí on Wikimedia
“The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dalí is famous for its clocks that melt, which show how time is relative. Dalí hid a distorted face in the scenery, which is thought to be his own. This shows that time is fluid and fleeting, just like identity. This hidden self-portrait makes the viewer think about what life is really like.
5. “The Arnolfini Portrait” by Jan van Eyck
Jan van Eyck on Wikimedia
There are many messages hidden in “The Arnolfini Portrait,” a scene from a wedding that at first glance seems easy. The mirror in the background, which shows two people who aren’t in the main picture, is one of the most interesting. Some people think these figures are the artist or a ghost, making the scene even more mysterious.
6. “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso
Anefo on Wikimedia
“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso is a strong work of art against war and is full of symbols that show how terrible war can be. The skewed faces and bodies symbolize the war’s painful side, but some shapes look like a horse, a bull, and a light bulb hiding in the chaos. People think these signs show how much the Spanish people suffered during the Civil War.
7. “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch
Frank Vincentz on Wikimedia
The three-part painting “The Garden of Earthly Delights” is very complicated. It shows strange animals and fantastical scenes. Some researchers think the painting has hidden alchemical meanings, with many items representing the changing of materials. The hidden message could be a warning about how dangerous it is to indulge and seek pleasures on earth.
8. “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh on Wikimedia
The “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh is famous for its bright colors and swirling skies, but the painting’s composition has some secret parts that make it interesting. Some people think that the sky’s over-the-top movement shows van Gogh’s own battle with mental disease. People often see the cypress tree in the center as a sign of death, which adds a sad tone to the otherwise lovely scene.
9. “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli on Wikimedia
“The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli shows the goddess Venus rising from the water, but the picture also has several hidden meanings. People think the shell she stands on represents her birth and the feminine power of making things. Some people also think the way the figures are placed and how Venus is draped in cloth may be related to old Greek philosophy, especially the idea of divine beauty.
10. “The School of Athens” by Raphael
Raphael on Wikimedia
“The School of Athens” by Raphael features some of the most famous philosophers from ancient Greece. However, it also includes some well-known people from modern times, which is thought to convey a message. Raphael was smart enough to add images of Renaissance thinkers, like himself and Leonardo da Vinci, to the scene. Combining historical and current figures in this way builds a link between ancient philosophy and Renaissance thought.
11. “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt
Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz) on Wikimedia
An exciting painting by Rembrandt called “The Night Watch” shows a military unit, but there are secret meanings in the painting that make it even more interesting. There are symbols of duty, loyalty, and power in the way the figures are moving and positioned and in the way they look. The fact that the background used to be dark has become lighter over time is interesting. It shows various layers and makes the picture seem even more mysterious.
12. “The Hay Wain” by John Constable
John Constable on Wikimedia
“The Hay Wain” is a peaceful scene, but there are things hidden in it that show more about how Constable saw life in the country. Some art critics think that the picture criticizes England’s industrialization in a subtle way by showing the peaceful countryside next to hints of industrial growth. Even though you can hardly see them, these parts add a social reflection to the peaceful scene.