You don't have to be an art aficionado to identify some of the world's most famous paintings. There's a good chance that your life has exposed you to more culturally iconic masterpieces than you realize. From Van Gogh to Warhol, there are some painting that have made lasting impressions in our brains. Will you be able to name all of them without going back to art history class, or will you need your friend Google to help you out? Get started with the quiz, and find out how much of an art whiz you really are!
1: Painted in 1889, some believe this Van Gogh painting depicts the "morning star" he once referenced in a letter to his brother. Do you know the name of it?
Vincent van Gogh
Although "The Starry Night" showcases a serene village scene sitting quietly under a flowing sky, the village is not a real place. Like the church steeple, Van Gogh incorporated memories from places he had lived to create the idyllic town.
2: What's the name of this Johannes Vermeer portrait that broke a lot of the traditional painting rules of the time?
Johannes Vermeer
When "Girl with a Pearl Earring" was painted in 1665, Johannes Vermeer took risks that other portrait painters were not taking. Instead of a traditional all-black background, he opted to include a dark green in the mix. There's also no historical reason for a Dutch girl to be wearing a turban, which adds to the painting's mystery.
3: Can you figure out the name of this famous Claude Monet painting from 1906?
Claude Monet
French painter Claude Monet belonged to a group of artists called Impressionists. Rather than paint with the accuracy of early portrait painters, they prefered to use thick paint and to capture both the scene and the light with brush strokes that left an impression of the moment. "Water Lilies" was Monet's first attempt at doing away with a horizon line.
4: No one really knows why Botticelli painted this masterpiece; can you choose the correct name for it?
Sandro Botticelli
"Birth of Venus" is based on Homer's tale of the goddess riding the seafoam to the shores of the island of Cythera. When in was painted in 1486, wood panels were more popular than canvas. Botticelli use of the medium made him one of the first artists to popularize it.
5: Do you know the name of this Leonardo da Vinci painting that has long been a source of mystery?
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" portrays Christ's final meal before his crucifixion. A theory popularized by the movie "The da Vinci Code" is that there are hidden symbols within the tempera painting. After all, there are several layers of paint beneath the "Mona Lisa."
6: Mexican artist Frida Kahlo examines herself in which self-portrait you see here?
Frida Kahlo
Left with her own company after a divorce from fellow artist Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo practiced self-examination by painting "The Two Fridas." Despite extensive injuries from a streetcar accident, she once claimed that Diego was the biggest accident she ever experienced. She also admitted that this portrait was about the vulnerability she felt without him.
7: What name is given to this 1930 farm life portrait by Grant Wood?
Grant Wood
Grant Wood may have created a nearly photographic portrait of rural life, but the painting process captured his ability to be creative. The man in the photo is his dentist, and the woman is his sister. The house is an actual house, but the image of an everyday couple conveyed by the painting was a figment of Wood's imagination and clever model placement.
8: Can you think back to art history class and name this Jan van Eyck painting?
Jan van Eyck
Jan van Eyck's 1434 "Arnolfini Portrait" may look like a simple commissioned painting of an Italian merchant and his wife, but there's more than meets the eye. If you study it carefully, you will see the story of Christ depicted through symbolism.The more uplifting moments are on the woman's side of the painting.
9: It took artist Georges Seurat two years to complete this work; do you know its name?
Georges Seurat
Seurat started "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" in 1884, but he didn't complete it until 1886. If you look closely at the painting, you will see that it is painted with a series of dots. A feat that earned him the nickname "Seurat the Dot."
10: You can almost hear the quiet in this Edward Hopper painting, but do you know its name?
Edward Hopper
Painted in 1942, "Nighthawks" was one of the first paintings to give rise to the Modernist movement. Although it is painted in traditional oil paint, it broke boundaries of the time by depicting a lesser known side of life. Back in the '40s, the term "nighthawks" was slang for those who live lifestyles that keep them up late.
11: Are you able to figure out the name of this Picasso work by studying the picture?
Picasso
Picasso's "The Old Guitarist" was painted in Barcelona. At the time, in the early 1900s, he was taking inspiration from artists like Edvard Munch and Paul Gauguin. Many say that this influence led to the blue hues and overall sad tone of the piece.
12: Can you recall the same of famous painting in this photo? It was created by Surrealist Salvador Dali.
Salvador Dali
According to Dali, "The Persistence of Memory" represents the melting nature of time. In fact, he once called the painting "the camembert of time." Known for his distinctive mustache and his reality-bending perspectives, he was somewhat of a rock star in the 1930s.
13: Any idea what the name of this gold leaf-kissed masterpiece by Gustav Klimt might be called?
Gustav Klimt
With touches of realism and a mixed media approach to painting, Austrian Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" has a timeless quality that carries over from its completion in 1908. If you wanted to view this intimate portrait, you would have to travel to Vienna, Italy.
14: What's the name of the Andy Warhol silkscreen painting in this photo?
Andy Warhol
As the godfather of Pop Art, Andy Warhol was known for pushing boundaries. By using stars like Marilyn Monroe and staples like Campbell's soup cans, he forced viewers to see their current culture in different way. With his "Marilyn Diptych," he was conveying his appreciation.
15: Try to use your indoor voice while you choose the correct name of this painting; what is it?
Edvard Munch
Two different versions of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" have been stolen at different points in time. Steered away from the arts by his family, Munch was forced into an unfamiliar artistic world. Painted in 1893, the abstract work conveys the inner turmoil the artist was experiencing at the time.
16: Do you know the name of this Rembrandt painting completed in 1642?
Rembrandt
Painted with oil, "The Night Watch" is a different style of portraiture for Rembrandt. Departing from his single subject form, he completed the painting at the request of a militia and their general. Along with Van Gogh, Rembrandt is considered one of the best Dutch painters to have picked up the brush.
17: Do you know what this Raphael fresco from the 1500s is named?
Raphael
You would need to travel to the Vatican to see "The School of Athens" in person. Raphael was commissioned to create the fresco in 1509, but he didn't complete it until 1511. Rather than being one work like we see on the internet, it is four separate paintings that adorn the walls of Apostolic Palace.
18: Are you able to identify this Diego Rivera painting from 1935?
Diego Rivera
In addition to being a famous mural artist, Diego Rivera was the husband of fellow artist Frida Kahlo. Even though the two shared a deep bond, they were divorced twice and once had an affair with her sister. His "The Flower Carrier" he tried to use colors in a way that were to be seen as a nod to his favorite artist, Vincent Van Gogh.
19: What's the name of this self-portrait by Belgian artist Rene Magritt?
Rene Magritt
Magritte may have called "The Son of Man" a simple self-portrait, but the themes portrayed within the work are quite complex. Completed in 1964, the piece explores subjects like the creation of man, being a flawed human being, and standing strong with one's identity.
20: Can you identify this portrait by American artist James McNeill Whistler?
James McNeill Whistler
"Whistler's Mother" was painting in 1871 and is now valued at nearly $50 million. Whistler didn't look far to find his subject, and he captured his mother's likeness with care. Usually an artist that performed more black and white tones, he branched out to include a more colorful palette for this work.
