20 Renowned Artists Whose Work Would Be Censored for Controversial Themes Today
Art has always been something that moves you, makes you push the boundaries, and also makes people squirm in their seats. Art is also relative to the time it is produced. So, imagine if some of history’s greatest artists dropped their masterpieces in today’s hypersensitive world. Here’s a rundown of 20 artists whose works would probably be slapped with a big old’ “CENSORED” sticker today. Grab your popcorn because this is going to be one wild ride.
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Salvador Dali
The Franco-Spanish artist was famous for his surrealism. Throughout the 20th century, he produced an enormous body of work that crossed all bounds of imagination, from melting clocks to bizarre landscapes to mustaches that defied gravity. Dali’s surrealism would raise a few eyebrows today, though. Especially with the recurrent theme of necrophilia and masturbation prevalent in almost all of his works, who wouldn’t question the sanity of a guy who paints elephants with elongated legs?
Hieronymus Bosch
The Dutch painter was famous for including abstract concepts in his art and depicting religious themes and also themes of humanity’s timeless nature. Interestingly, from 1450 to 1516, he only produced 20 works. His tricky depictions of hell and fantastical creatures would likely send the censors into a frenzy. Plus, who needs nightmares when you can stare at “The Garden of Earthly Delights”?
Francisco Goya
By 1819, having witnessed Napoleon’s invasion of Spain and the chaos and brutality that the invasion caused, Goya didn’t shy away from the dark side of humanity, and his “Saturn Devouring His Son” is a horror movie poster waiting to happen. Painted within the four walls of his villa, this precise painting is a part of his collection, known as the Black Paintings. Made in black, with monstrous bodies, the expressionist paintings are not an easy sight to digest.
Caravaggio
Born on September 29, 1571, Caravaggio led a complicated life. At a time when figures in paintings were idealized, his realism made him truly different. His paintings were basically Renaissance tabloid fodder. From scandalous religious scenes to his knack for casting shady characters and even himself as biblical figures (sick Bacchus), Caravaggio would have definitely gotten a slap on the wrist from the morality police today.
Pablo Picasso
The modernist painter and sculpture designer is one of the most celebrated names in art. But anything that is celebrated is also bound to ruffle some feathers, and his infamous painting called the ‘Guernica’ was the one that ruffled a lot of feathers, with a modernist depiction of the massacre of the Basque village. The painting has since then become a symbol for every bombed city. The painting was even covered up at the United Nations.
Edvard Munch
Edward Munch kept most of his paintings for himself, giving him the freedom to experiment a lot. But even the paintings that people commissioned him to make were sometimes unsatisfied with his abysmal portrayal of the subjects. “The Scream” is one such example. Though the painting is the ultimate mood, Munch’s angsty and too-subjective portrayal of things would have landed him in a social media storm.
Marcel Duchamp
Duchamp’s Fountain is perhaps the most talked-about artwork of the 20th century. It’s a ‘readymade’—an ordinary object transformed into art because the artist says it is. In 1917, Duchamp presented a urinal to the Society of Independent Artists. They rejected it, saying it wasn’t art. Duchamp’s Fountain raised some big questions, and these questions went on to shape art for the 20th Century.
Frida Kahlo
Although she is regarded as one of the most famous artists today, she was pretty unknown until the 1970s. Kahlo’s self-portraits were iconic, and she was one of the first pioneers of feminism. Her folk art style and Mexico’s popular culture gave her paintings a unique touch. In recent times, though, her paintings have come under the scrutiny of cultural appropriation.
Gustave Courbet
Since 1855, Gustava’s works have enraged the audience, but there is a certain sense of delight in being enraged by him. His painting has a realistic style and almost photographic details, mainly “The Origin of the World,” the 19th-century equivalent of an NSFW Snapchat. Courbet’s unabashed celebration of the female form would probably cause a few pearl-clutching moments.
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon is widely recognized as a significant and influential painter of the 20th century. His long career stretched across pivotal periods in history. In his art, he delved into distorting the human form, drawing from themes of sexuality, violence, and cruelty. Bacon’s figurative pieces are famous for their intense, vivid, and sometimes tragic visuals. He often blurred the lines between human and beast in his paintings, taking inspiration from animal anatomy. Bacon’s distorted figures and raw emotion will likely be deemed too intense for sensitive viewers. His obsession with screaming popes is only some people’s cup of tea.
Andy Warhol
Warhol was a pioneer of pop art, which, from a distance, might seem harmless but isn’t. His “Death and Disaster” series combined images from newspapers and magazines in the subjective context of art. The series focused on controversial figures in American history who were executed for treason, which did not land well with audiences.
Egon Schiele
The Austrian painter painted one of the most celebrated self-portraits, but what truly distinguishes him is his eroticism, which makes “Fifty Shades of Grey” look like a children’s book. His cringeworthy Portrait in Blue’s provocative poses and frank depictions of sexuality would get the censor’s red pen in this environment.
Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock was an influential Abstract Expressionist artist known for his huge “action” paintings. He made these by dripping and splashing paint onto big canvases on the floor. After the Second World War, he felt disappointed with people, so he started showing the craziness of modern life in his paintings. His most famous artwork is Blue Poles, Number 11, 1952. At first, Pollock’s unusual way of painting shocked many people, but soon, it became popular in mainstream culture, which was typical of that time in art. However, imagine the uproar if someone tried to pass off a splatter painting as high art today.
Mark Rothko
One of the most controversial figures of the 1940s, Rothko’s color-field paintings are like staring straight into the void—seriously, try it. But in a world where everyone’s attention span is shorter than a goldfish’s, we can’t help but wonder if his minimalist style would just get lost in the noise.
Yoko Ono
Ono’s conceptual art of the 70s is about as polarizing as pineapple on pizza. From her infamous “Cut Piece” to her avant-garde performances, she’s not afraid to push people’s buttons. Plus, being married to John Lennon probably didn’t hurt her reputation as a provocateur.
Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei was a big troublemaker in his days. He was known for criticizing the Chinese government and standing up for free speech. One of his famous pieces is Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn. In this artwork, he smashes an ancient and important ceremonial urn. Lots of people thought this was disrespectful. Weiwei’s activism and outspoken criticism of the Chinese government would probably get him labeled as a “troublemaker” on social media now as well.
Banksy
Born in Bristol, England, Banksy’s graffiti is considered street art gold, which challenged a lot of traditional artistic norms. For some, his art was impressive, ironic, and humorous, while for others, it was plain Vandalism, especially combined with his subversive messages and anti-establishment stance. All this is enough to get him on the wrong side of the law in today’s surveillance state.
Barbara Kruger
The bold American artist was born in 1945. Kruger’s bold conceptual text-based art with bold red, white, and black overlaid with cultural critique is like a slap in the face with a dictionary. However, her critiques of consumer culture and feminism would rub some people the wrong way.
David Wojnarowicz
Wojnarowicz’s provocative art and activism around LGBTQ+ issues would probably spark heated debates on Twitter today. But hey, if you’re not making waves, are you making art?
Damien Hirst
Hirst’s penchant for shock value and his obsession with death might make him the Marilyn Manson of the art world. Let’s not forget the whole “pickled shark in a tank” thing. That’s enough to make anyone do a double-take.
16 Famous Comedians Whose Jokes Are Forbidden in Today’s World
Related: In the ever-evolving comedy landscape, societal norms and sensitivities play a significant role in shaping acceptable humor. Over the years, certain comedians who were once celebrated for their wit and sharp humor have found themselves in hot water for jokes now deemed offensive or inappropriate.
Here are 16 famous comedians whose jokes are forbidden in today’s world.
