What If Characters From Famous Paintings Attended Music Festivals Today

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Ever wonder how subjects from iconic classical paintings would behave if they lived today? Hungary-based photojournalist Márton Neményi used his Photoshop skills to visualize just that. For his latest playful series, the artist re-worked classic masterpieces to superimpose famous faces—including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Grant Wood’s American Gothic farmer couple—into modern music festival scenes.

Neményi created his digital collages using photos he took at this year’s Sziget Festival in Budapest. “I imagined the bored Mona Lisa in front of the main stage, Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty doing some headbang, Ruben’s Andromeda getting in the mood, [and] the world’s most famous farmer couple listening to Arctic Monkeys,” he explains. “The result is almost like fine-art. Fine-crazy-art.”

Each art history mash-up is cleverly composed, blending each painterly subjects with the original photo’s natural lighting to create semi-believable scenarios. Renaissance, Modernist, and Impressionist “celebrities” are seen mingling with real-life crowds, relaxing on grass, and watching their favorite acts, perhaps leaving the other festival goers feeling starstruck!

Discover more of Neményi’s work on his website, where you’ll also find Paintings live—a similar series, but set inside bars and on city streets.

Hungary-based photojournalist Márton Neményi uses Photoshop to visualize subjects from iconic classical paintings at music festivals.

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

The clever digital collages were made by re-working the artist’s photos he took at this year’s Sziget Festival in Budapest.

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Renaissance, Modernist, and Impressionist “celebrities” are seen mingling with real-life crowds.

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Classical Paintings at Music Festivals by Márton Neményi

Márton Neményi: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Márton Neményi.

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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