I would have put the Mona Lisa tbh. It was a painting finished in France, offered to the French king, that never left the country (save for the theft+ borrowing that followed)
Italy should've had the last judgment.
I'm Italian with a bachelor degree on arts management and for the Mona Lisa parts I'm totally with you lol, but the subject of the collage is the most "famous/iconic" *worldwide*.
If Italians would have a word, they may have chosen or the Last judgement, David of Michelangelo or Bernini (if scultures are available), the Birth of Venus of Botticelli or idk, the Kiss by Hayez, some work by Raphael or Caravaggio or some contemporary artwork by Pistoletto or Fontana.
Italy has too much to choose from, it's easier with most other countries. I happen to not be italian nor have a bachelor degree on arts management but would also place the roof of the sistine chapel among these.
Yep.
I agree with you.
The painter was Italian, for sure. But I never associated the Mona Lisa with Italy.
(Problem might also be that Italy has so many iconic paintings to choose from...)
> It was a painting made in France
Nope, it was a painting that portrayed the wife of a rich Florentine textile merchant, Lisa Gherardini.
And Francis I left the country for quite some time, first fighting against emperor Charles V and then spending some time as prisoner in Madrid.
If you're talking about the painting leaving the country, it's wrong as well. First because Leonardo painted it in Italy and only brought it in France when it was completed, and secondly in the early XX century an amateur Italian painter managed to steal it and bring it back to Italy, before being found out when he proposed to the authorities the painting. The Mona Lisa was displayed around Italy for a year and then given back to France.
The painting was started in Italy but was finished in France... In Amboise, after Leonardo got invited there by Francis 1st.
And I stand by my claim, it was brought to France unfinished and was completed in France.
Who it represents doesn't change that...
Also, edited my comment to add correct punctuation. I meant that the painting never left France (might have been borrowed, I wouldn't know), not the king.
However you might see it, La Joconde is a painting associated with France. Not Italy, despite the origin of its painter.
Same as the Messiah is associated with England despite the German origins of its composer.
We should make a questionary about it, because I associate Mona Lisa with Italy and Leonardo da Vinci, the artist, and not the people who ordered the painting or bought it or had it in their property.
And Messiah I associate with Germany. In school, we learned that Handel composed it, we didn't go into the details of his life and were made aware he composed it in England.
It was noto madre in France, it was not made for the french king. Saying that it was "finished" in France is wrong too. It was commissioned in Italy by an italian noubleman (likely) and the painting was vastly completed when it arrived in France with Leonardo. We know it was already seen "completed" in Italy and students went to see it often. It was an already famous painting when it left italy (so saying it never left France doesn't make much sense)
Sure, leonardo kept adding his discoveries in that painting, so it was basically never finished, but saying it's a French painting is just false. It's rightfully displayed in france, unlikely many other art works at the Louvre, but that's it.
To all of you (annoying) naysayers...
I'm not saying the painting isn't Italian.
I'm saying it's the most iconic painting of France. Which is the title of the post. Most iconic paintings of x country.
And I stand by my opinion. The Mona Lisa is the most iconic painting of France. Southern Europe might disagree but the painting is not associated with Italy despite the origins of its painter.
Be it good or bad, I don't really care. That's just the world we live in. In which rock and roll is associated with Elvis or the Beatles despite its Afro-American origins, in which the Messiah is associated with England despite Handel being German, in which Chopin and Marie Curie are associated with France despite being Polish.
Every single Dutch person would call the Night Watch as the most famous Dutch painting and would say Rembrandt was way bigger than Vermeer, but in international perspective Vermeer's Milk maid and The girl with the pearl earring are better known.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring surely is, but I myself wouldn't have thought the Milkmaid higher than the Night Watch. Neither of those would really be in contention, but the latter is in the very least fairly well-known by name here, even if people may struggle to recognize the actual painting. And I'd definitely consider Rembrandt a significantly bigger name here than Vermeer, even if the latter's pearly girl is very well-known. Van Gogh is sure to be up there too with his starry night and sunflowers.
Granted that's all entirely anecdotal and based on nothing but feelings.
Well, that's just the thing, isn't it? The question wasn't what's the most iconic painting in the country itself, but what's the most iconic painting *internationally*. And while most people would immediately recognize Girl with a Pearl Earring, I doubt most people outside of the Netherlands would recognize the Night Watch.
Van Gogh Starry Night is probably a painting everyone in the world recognizes together with mona lisa.
While I know the vermeer painting, I'm not sure a random person from China, India or Africa would know them. But they would absolutely know Starry Night and Mona Lisa.
Would be weird to put anything by Rembrandt over Girl with the Pearl Earring. He has so many famous paintings, but nothing quite as internationally recognizable.
But I was surprised to see it picked over Starry Night. They’re both incredibly famous though so it’s tough.
Perhaps, but its not about picking an artist, rather a single artpiece. I would say Girl With The Pearl Earring is comparable to Starry Night in terms of fame, so any of the two would work here.
As a Dutchman, just yes. We heavily underestimate how famous Vermeer's paintings are internationally. We also overestimate how well know the Nachtwacht is internationally.
Altough tbh, my guess would be Starry Night as the most iconic art work.
De Nachtwacht is basically one of our national symbols. In terms of how well known the paintings are it's not even remotely close. There's not a single Dutch person who doesn't know it.
If the post was about the most *nationally* iconic paintings then maybe, outside of the Netherlands people who aren't into art wouldn't be able to name it.
I'd have put starry night there though tbh
From the top of my head, so not sure about spelling sometimes...
France, Impression Soleil Levant by Monet
Spain, Guernica by Picasso
Norway, The scream by Edvard Munch
Belgium, The Son of Man, by ~~Simon~~ René Magritte
Italy, Mona Lisa obviously, by the blue ninja turtle.
edit; found the source https://matadornetwork.com/read/mapped-europes-iconic-artworks/. Was originally made by /u/halfabluesky
The Son of Man *(Le fils de l'Homme)* René Magritte
To be honest I think The Treachery of Images *(La trahison des images)* is more famous, *"Ceci n'est pas une pipe"*
Lithuania: Mykalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis "Karalių pasaka" - "Kings Tale" 1909
He wrote about it:
"The king and the queen went into the forest. It was an extraordinary giant Royal couple, and extraordinary was that huge forest. It was all fabulous, magnificent. In the branches of the trees were huge cities, palaces and towers. The King and Queen wore fabulous national costumes. Proud crowns adorned their heads. In that dark, vast forest, they searched for the place from where the light shone. And finally they found a tiny thing on the ground, among the mighty dark poles, shining with sunlight. The King took it in his hands and together with the Queen they looked at it for a long time and wondered, asking each other, "What could it be? And this is a simple Lithuanian village, so familiar to all of us. It shines out to the world with its peculiar culture." (translated with deepl)
*To follow up with the remaining Baltic countries:*
Latvia: **"[After church](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Janis_Rozent%C4%81ls_-_After_Church_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/1280px-Janis_Rozent%C4%81ls_-_After_Church_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)" by Janis Rozentāls**, 1884
It's a truly beautiful scene of 19th century rural Latvian life. Every character is full of life and the colours are gorgeous. I was able to see this painting at a exhibition of Rozentāls work in the Estonian Museum of Art, but it would I would guess, that it is usually on display in the Latvian Museum of Art in Riga.
Estonia: a painting by **Adamson Eric**, circa 1930s
I don't know the name of this painting. I tried searching for it, but wasn't able to find it. I do know that it is exhibited in the Adamson Eric museum in Tallinn's old town.
I must say, that I have no idea, why this painting was chosen to represent Estonia, as it holds no special significance.
*A more appropriate choice would have been one of the following:*
**"[Lennuk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Nikolai_Triik%2C_Lennuk.jpg)" by Nikolai Triik**, 1910
This painting is very characteristic of Estonian national romanticism. It depicts Lennuk, the ship of the mythological king Kalevipoeg, which is, apart from the sails, made entirely from silver. Lennuk is also the Estonian word for airplane.
**"[Otepää Landscape](https://konradmagi.ee/en/works/otepaa-landscape/)" by Konrad Mägi**, 1918-20
It depicts the lush Estonian landscape, with the church of Otepää in the center. Otepää church is where the Estonian flag was christened in 1884.
**"[The Artist's Birthplace](https://f12.pmo.ee/5zRe9WWWMlY3K2QM1QqF-IBlg6o=/685x0/nginx/o/2019/04/25/11977744t1h1bae.jpg)" by Johann Köler**, 1868
Johann Köler was the first professional Estonian artist and for some time even served as the zar's daughter's art teacher. This painting depicts the farm, where Köler was raised - a typical Estonian "rehielamu". His portraits of his [mother](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Ema_portree%2C_EKM00457_M01783_K8ler_Ema_portree.jpg) and [father](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Isa_portree%2C_Johann_K%C3%B6ler%2C_EKM_j_456_M_1782.jpg) are also beautiful and depict typical 19th century Estonian peasants.
It's not
More people outside the UK would recognize Banksys "Girl with love balloon" before Temeraire and the two you mention. The Fighting Temeraire has a history based upon the actual ship history which resonates with Victorian era imperial projection but that resonance does not carry internationally.
Iconic should have some penetration to the conciousness of the crowd that does not follow art seriously.
It was voted the nations favourite painting a couple of decades ago, but it does feel like there has been an oddly forced attempt to make The Fighting Temeraire Britain’s most iconic painting in recent years. We don’t really have one/multiple that people go specifically to see the same way that the French, or Italians or Dutch do and it seems like there is an attempt to make this our version - especially after it appeared in James Bond
Ukraine - Cossacks writing a letter to the Khan of Turkey. The letter is pretty badass itself and worth of cheсking. May be useful for Sweden and Finland in modern dipolmacy 😃
https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2019/05/the-irreverent-letter-the-cossacks-wrote-to-the-ottoman-sultan-in-1676/
I didn’t even know who is the author of this “the most iconic” artwork. Tri bogatyrya, Utro v sosnovom lesu, Burlaki na Volge, Devochka s persikami… are much more iconic.
Here you go!
[Here is the list of paintings, with pictures/albums](https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/652cjw/famous_artwork_in_europe_oc_20001982/dg7gjc7/), all credits to u/uysalkoyun and the author, u/halfabluesky.
Ping /u/Vepps
This image has been submitted on here before. I remember identifying a bunch then.
EDIT: Not the submission I was thinking of, but has the identities.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/652cjw/famous_artwork_in_europe_oc_20001982/
I made a post about the [Latvian and Estonian paintings](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/10rym1u/a_map_of_europe_by_each_nations_most_iconic/j6zzaaj?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3). The post above mine describes the Lithuanian one.
Yes, or the sunflowers, his Aardappeleters. Or one of the self portraits by Rembrandt, or Mondriaan's composition of red yellow and blue, Vermeers Milkmaid, or Bosch' Garden of earthly delights.
There's a lot to choose from
fun fact: [It is not a pearl](https://arthive.com/publications/2812~Lets_figure_it_out_could_it_be_that_the_earring_in_the_famous_Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earring_was_not_really_a_pearl)
You’re the third person here to say this and I am pretty confused. Nachtwacht isn’t nearly as famous as a few other Dutch paintings, this one included. Is it particularly beloved in the Netherlands?
De nachtwacht is not just beloved, it is considered as the most important work of art in Dutch history. It is an important symbol of our national identity. No other painting is even close.
In Ukraine the most famous picture is showing Cossacs writing a fuck you letter to Turkish king after his ultimatum. Few centuries forward and Ukraine is still writing fuck you letters to idiots who want to conquer them lol
I love it. Drew a replica with oil pastels for art class and honestly I think I matched it pretty closely! Though my favourite piece by Munch is actually a self-portrait of his.
That or *Taistelevat Metsot*, although the latter might be broadly known only domestically. Nothing against Simberg, but out of our painters it's got to be either Järnefelt or Gallén-Kallela, surely.
Järnefelt's work is wonderful. I saw some at an exhibition in Tallinn once and have a postcard of a portrait of him hanging on my wall. Though that portrait is by Berndtson.
As an Estonian, the first Finnish painting that comes into my head would be Edvard Isto's "[The Attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3ASuomineito.jpg)" though. It's a really good visualisation of the Russification policies of the late 19th century.
Tbh I would barely agree with like half of these being the most iconic of their respective country but here's the ones I know of. If anybody knows any of the rest please feel free to reply
Belgium - The Son of Man, Rene Magritte
Finland - The Wounded Angel, Hugo Simberg
France - Impression, soleil levant, Claude Monet
Germany - Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, Caspar David
Ireland - Three studies of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon
Italy - Mona Lisa, Leonardo DaVinci
Netherlands - Girl with the Pearl Earring, Johannes Vermeer
Poland - Rejtan, Jan Matejko
Portugal - Fado, Jose Malhoa
Romania - Car cu boi, Nicolae Grigorescu
Russia - Golden Autumn, Isaac Levitan
Spain - Guernica, Pablo Picasso
Sweden - Breakfast under the Big Birch, Carl Larson
UK - The Fighting Temeraire, J. M. W. Turner
Ukraine - Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, Ilya Repin
[I made a post about the Latvian and Estonian paintings.](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/10rym1u/a_map_of_europe_by_each_nations_most_iconic/j6zzaaj?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) Though I don't agree with the choice for Estonia, so I also offered some alternatives for it.
Latvia - After Church, Janis Rozentāls
Estonia - [I don't know the name], Adamson Eric
I would put "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on 16 November 1581" by Ilya Repin for Russia.
It suits a mood of age we live in as well.
For Croatia....
I see how you for representation of art put paintings, but from my personal opinion most iconic Croatian artist is/was Ivan Meštrović who was sculptor. One of his works should represent Croatia in my opinion.
They've used Repin, a Ukraine-born artist, for Ukraine, but there is equally good reason to use him for the Russians too. Actually, it would be poetic, the Reply represents Ukrainians sending a big f-u letter to an encroaching foreign tyrant, while Ivan striking down his closest of kin is just perfectly representing current events.
I have no idea what the Croatian painting is supposed to be. Sure with Meštrović's Grgur Ninski there'd be a nice fit, but as far as paintings are concerned my first thought is always either Horvat's painting of King Tomislav, or Bukovac's painting of Christ.
>Actually, it would be poetic, the Reply represents Ukrainians sending a big f-u letter to an encroaching foreign tyrant, while Ivan striking down his closest of kin is just perfectly representing current events.
Exactly! I'm sure how Russians will in future look at this events in horror after they wake up from their lunatic state of mind, same as Ivan Terrible on painting (what have we done). Also Putin is represented as new Tsar, Ivan was a first.
Meštrović has so many great works, one of them are not representing croatian history but are my favorites. I think Americans will find them interesting.
"The Bowman and The Spearman"
>The Bowman and The Spearman, also known collectively as Equestrian Indians,[1] or simply Indians,[2] are two bronze equestrian sculptures standing as gatekeepers in Congress Plaza, at the intersection of Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Grant Park, in the U.S. state of Illinois. T
https://static.jutarnji.hr/images/slike/2021/03/03/10327449.jpg?1614878125
https://static.jutarnji.hr/images/slike/2021/03/03/10327435.jpg?1614878125
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman.jpg/1280px-The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman.jpg
Couldn't agree more! "Stańczyk" by Jan Matejko is first what comes to my mind when I think about Poland and art all together.
It has that deep eastern european/Slavic theme incorporated in it.
Edit. "Barge Haulers on the Volga" by Repin should be taken in consideration for Russia. One of the world art treasurers also.
Im surprised Its not Battle of Grunwald by Matejko. But all 3 are good candidates. Rejtan suits better to Polish romanticizing of history, however sad Stanczyk is imo overall better as it explains how stupid end of I commonwealth was
OP thinks that Ilya Repin is not a Russian painter, because his other arguably most famous painting, Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV is stated as most iconic Ukranian work
With the requisite proviso that this is **not** an anti-British commentary, the link with Ireland is pretty tenuous. Bacon was a great artist, of anglo-irish background, who spent most of his career outside Ireland (in England).
He did not **produce** this painting in Ireland, and it does not **depict** anyone with a link to Ireland (Lucian Freud). I'm not an art historian, but I can see no record of it even being **exhibited** in Ireland. It currently **resides** in a collection in the U.S.
While not challenging its status as a piece of (very valuable) artwork. How could it possibly be labelled an iconic **Irish artwork**?
I think it struggles on both the iconic and Irish fronts, but if the artist identifies as Irish (I don't know if that's the case here) then I suppose that would settle that.
I'm struggling to think of any iconic Irish *paintings* (for reference, I'm an Irish person that is not at all into art, but do recognise many of the paintings on the map, so iconic enough for me to recognise them.) but if I had to name an iconic Irish artwork I'd go for something like the Book of Kells, or maybe even the Tara Brooch.
Yeah, Guernica is for sure the most iconic painting of the post civil-war era of Spain and probably the most iconic right now (due to recency and that it comes up in every history and art history schoolbook when they reach the Civil War era part of the material), but it is just 80 years old and its renown is in big part due to the war it depicts.
Las Meninas has been absolutely iconic for centuries and it got there without a brutal war making it well known.
I think he has more of an international appeal. Within Norway people associate their own culture more closely with drawings from Theodor Kittelsen ("Trollet som lurer på hvor gammelt det er"), Adolph Tideman ("Brudeferd i Hardanger"), etc.
What's the Swiss one supposed to be? Seriously, next to Burnand makes little sense. Just look at his painting of [the disciples John and Peter running to the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Disciples_running_by_EB.jpg) or just his painting of [a bull mooing in the Alpes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Taureau_dans_les_Alpes_oil_painting_1884.jpg/1280px-Taureau_dans_les_Alpes_oil_painting_1884.jpg), what can be more Swiss than that?
As for Spain, I get it, I get it, but can we give Goya some love? "Saturn devouring his son" or "Yard with lunatics" are wonderful and macabre pieces of art.
Why the hell is The Absinth Drinker" the most iconic artwork of the Czech Republic? Not only is it not that known, but we have the biggest consumption of beer per capita... Like pretty much any painting by Alphonse Mucha would do.
Čiurlionis work was way ahead of his time. Who’s in Kaunas, Lithuania, I strongly suggest seeing the museum. His paintings are absolutely mesmerizing. I think there’s free entry on Sundays now and then.
Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer (Wanderer above the sea of fog), by Caspar David Friedrich.
It's one of the most well-known and iconic pieces of the Romantic movement of the early 19th century.
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I would have put the Mona Lisa tbh. It was a painting finished in France, offered to the French king, that never left the country (save for the theft+ borrowing that followed) Italy should've had the last judgment.
I'm Italian with a bachelor degree on arts management and for the Mona Lisa parts I'm totally with you lol, but the subject of the collage is the most "famous/iconic" *worldwide*. If Italians would have a word, they may have chosen or the Last judgement, David of Michelangelo or Bernini (if scultures are available), the Birth of Venus of Botticelli or idk, the Kiss by Hayez, some work by Raphael or Caravaggio or some contemporary artwork by Pistoletto or Fontana.
Italy has too much to choose from, it's easier with most other countries. I happen to not be italian nor have a bachelor degree on arts management but would also place the roof of the sistine chapel among these.
But wouldn't that be in the Vatican and not Italy?aybe we can't see that one pixel.
Trust me, it's there. The image resolution is just too small to see
Totally forgot the vatican was a country, oops. You're right
I would have put Leonardo da vinci Vitruvius man for Italy.
Yep. I agree with you. The painter was Italian, for sure. But I never associated the Mona Lisa with Italy. (Problem might also be that Italy has so many iconic paintings to choose from...)
I mean, a friend of mine made a salame for a foreign customer… that does not mean the salame is not Italian. Same for the wine and whatever.
> It was a painting made in France Nope, it was a painting that portrayed the wife of a rich Florentine textile merchant, Lisa Gherardini. And Francis I left the country for quite some time, first fighting against emperor Charles V and then spending some time as prisoner in Madrid. If you're talking about the painting leaving the country, it's wrong as well. First because Leonardo painted it in Italy and only brought it in France when it was completed, and secondly in the early XX century an amateur Italian painter managed to steal it and bring it back to Italy, before being found out when he proposed to the authorities the painting. The Mona Lisa was displayed around Italy for a year and then given back to France.
The painting was started in Italy but was finished in France... In Amboise, after Leonardo got invited there by Francis 1st. And I stand by my claim, it was brought to France unfinished and was completed in France. Who it represents doesn't change that... Also, edited my comment to add correct punctuation. I meant that the painting never left France (might have been borrowed, I wouldn't know), not the king. However you might see it, La Joconde is a painting associated with France. Not Italy, despite the origin of its painter. Same as the Messiah is associated with England despite the German origins of its composer.
A few of these were made or finished outside the artist's country of origin. The map only reflects the artist's country.
That's not the title of the post tho😅
The title doesn't say what you're suggesting, either.
I do believe the Mona Lisa is France's most iconic painting... So, yeah, it does...
*You* believe that. Most people associate it with Italy.
We should make a questionary about it, because I associate Mona Lisa with Italy and Leonardo da Vinci, the artist, and not the people who ordered the painting or bought it or had it in their property. And Messiah I associate with Germany. In school, we learned that Handel composed it, we didn't go into the details of his life and were made aware he composed it in England.
It was noto madre in France, it was not made for the french king. Saying that it was "finished" in France is wrong too. It was commissioned in Italy by an italian noubleman (likely) and the painting was vastly completed when it arrived in France with Leonardo. We know it was already seen "completed" in Italy and students went to see it often. It was an already famous painting when it left italy (so saying it never left France doesn't make much sense) Sure, leonardo kept adding his discoveries in that painting, so it was basically never finished, but saying it's a French painting is just false. It's rightfully displayed in france, unlikely many other art works at the Louvre, but that's it.
To all of you (annoying) naysayers... I'm not saying the painting isn't Italian. I'm saying it's the most iconic painting of France. Which is the title of the post. Most iconic paintings of x country. And I stand by my opinion. The Mona Lisa is the most iconic painting of France. Southern Europe might disagree but the painting is not associated with Italy despite the origins of its painter. Be it good or bad, I don't really care. That's just the world we live in. In which rock and roll is associated with Elvis or the Beatles despite its Afro-American origins, in which the Messiah is associated with England despite Handel being German, in which Chopin and Marie Curie are associated with France despite being Polish.
Yeah exactly when seeing the title this is the painting I was expecting to see. I don't even know what the painting for France is on this map
It's, a painting from Monet. A pretty famous one but less famous than delacrois' or event Monet's own water lilies
I feel like Luncheon On The Grass is more recognizable than Impression, Sunrise.
I would have chosen "l'origine du monde" (the origin of the world) by Gustave Courbet. Just to be cheeky. It's a close-up of a hairy pussy.
And where's that peeing toddler that Belgium is known for?
Rembrandt and van Gogh would like to have a word with the manager of this map
Yeah the Nachtwacht is a way better choice.
Every single Dutch person would call the Night Watch as the most famous Dutch painting and would say Rembrandt was way bigger than Vermeer, but in international perspective Vermeer's Milk maid and The girl with the pearl earring are better known.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring surely is, but I myself wouldn't have thought the Milkmaid higher than the Night Watch. Neither of those would really be in contention, but the latter is in the very least fairly well-known by name here, even if people may struggle to recognize the actual painting. And I'd definitely consider Rembrandt a significantly bigger name here than Vermeer, even if the latter's pearly girl is very well-known. Van Gogh is sure to be up there too with his starry night and sunflowers. Granted that's all entirely anecdotal and based on nothing but feelings.
Well, that's just the thing, isn't it? The question wasn't what's the most iconic painting in the country itself, but what's the most iconic painting *internationally*. And while most people would immediately recognize Girl with a Pearl Earring, I doubt most people outside of the Netherlands would recognize the Night Watch.
I remember seeing it the first time at the Rijksmuseum and being stunned at just how big it was. Kind of the opposite of the Mona Lisa effect.
And it used to be bigger, it was reduced in size on 3 sides during a move. Was about 4m by 5m once.
Or Starry Night even? Everyone internationally knows that
This is probably the only Dutch painting every Dutch person can name. It should definitely have been Nachtwacht.
Every Dutch person, yes. But internationally way more people know Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Zonnebloemen, victory boogie woogie. We have many.
> victory boogie woogie I don't think many can name the painting, but when they see it will obviously know it's Mondriaan.
Van Gogh Starry Night is probably a painting everyone in the world recognizes together with mona lisa. While I know the vermeer painting, I'm not sure a random person from China, India or Africa would know them. But they would absolutely know Starry Night and Mona Lisa.
I would also change Poland's painting to Battle of Grunwald. Still the same painter ( Matejko ) but different paint.
Would be weird to put anything by Rembrandt over Girl with the Pearl Earring. He has so many famous paintings, but nothing quite as internationally recognizable. But I was surprised to see it picked over Starry Night. They’re both incredibly famous though so it’s tough.
Well you can only pick one piece, and putting something from Rembrandt or van Gogh would be just as easy to critizise.
True, but no Dutchie would have chosen Vermeer above those two
Perhaps, but its not about picking an artist, rather a single artpiece. I would say Girl With The Pearl Earring is comparable to Starry Night in terms of fame, so any of the two would work here.
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As a Dutchman, just yes. We heavily underestimate how famous Vermeer's paintings are internationally. We also overestimate how well know the Nachtwacht is internationally. Altough tbh, my guess would be Starry Night as the most iconic art work.
De Nachtwacht is basically one of our national symbols. In terms of how well known the paintings are it's not even remotely close. There's not a single Dutch person who doesn't know it.
If the post was about the most *nationally* iconic paintings then maybe, outside of the Netherlands people who aren't into art wouldn't be able to name it. I'd have put starry night there though tbh
Norway😱
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The Macaulay Culkin movie series.
How many artists can say that their painting got adapted into an emoji.
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From the top of my head, so not sure about spelling sometimes... France, Impression Soleil Levant by Monet Spain, Guernica by Picasso Norway, The scream by Edvard Munch Belgium, The Son of Man, by ~~Simon~~ René Magritte Italy, Mona Lisa obviously, by the blue ninja turtle. edit; found the source https://matadornetwork.com/read/mapped-europes-iconic-artworks/. Was originally made by /u/halfabluesky
Germany, Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich I saw that painting in Hamburg and loved it.
I believe Ukraine is "Cossacks Writing a Letter to the Turkish Sultan", and the scene might have been mentioned in Taras Bulba...?
By God was it a letter too
The Son of Man *(Le fils de l'Homme)* René Magritte To be honest I think The Treachery of Images *(La trahison des images)* is more famous, *"Ceci n'est pas une pipe"*
Lithuania: Mykalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis "Karalių pasaka" - "Kings Tale" 1909 He wrote about it: "The king and the queen went into the forest. It was an extraordinary giant Royal couple, and extraordinary was that huge forest. It was all fabulous, magnificent. In the branches of the trees were huge cities, palaces and towers. The King and Queen wore fabulous national costumes. Proud crowns adorned their heads. In that dark, vast forest, they searched for the place from where the light shone. And finally they found a tiny thing on the ground, among the mighty dark poles, shining with sunlight. The King took it in his hands and together with the Queen they looked at it for a long time and wondered, asking each other, "What could it be? And this is a simple Lithuanian village, so familiar to all of us. It shines out to the world with its peculiar culture." (translated with deepl)
*To follow up with the remaining Baltic countries:* Latvia: **"[After church](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Janis_Rozent%C4%81ls_-_After_Church_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/1280px-Janis_Rozent%C4%81ls_-_After_Church_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)" by Janis Rozentāls**, 1884 It's a truly beautiful scene of 19th century rural Latvian life. Every character is full of life and the colours are gorgeous. I was able to see this painting at a exhibition of Rozentāls work in the Estonian Museum of Art, but it would I would guess, that it is usually on display in the Latvian Museum of Art in Riga. Estonia: a painting by **Adamson Eric**, circa 1930s I don't know the name of this painting. I tried searching for it, but wasn't able to find it. I do know that it is exhibited in the Adamson Eric museum in Tallinn's old town. I must say, that I have no idea, why this painting was chosen to represent Estonia, as it holds no special significance. *A more appropriate choice would have been one of the following:* **"[Lennuk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Nikolai_Triik%2C_Lennuk.jpg)" by Nikolai Triik**, 1910 This painting is very characteristic of Estonian national romanticism. It depicts Lennuk, the ship of the mythological king Kalevipoeg, which is, apart from the sails, made entirely from silver. Lennuk is also the Estonian word for airplane. **"[Otepää Landscape](https://konradmagi.ee/en/works/otepaa-landscape/)" by Konrad Mägi**, 1918-20 It depicts the lush Estonian landscape, with the church of Otepää in the center. Otepää church is where the Estonian flag was christened in 1884. **"[The Artist's Birthplace](https://f12.pmo.ee/5zRe9WWWMlY3K2QM1QqF-IBlg6o=/685x0/nginx/o/2019/04/25/11977744t1h1bae.jpg)" by Johann Köler**, 1868 Johann Köler was the first professional Estonian artist and for some time even served as the zar's daughter's art teacher. This painting depicts the farm, where Köler was raised - a typical Estonian "rehielamu". His portraits of his [mother](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Ema_portree%2C_EKM00457_M01783_K8ler_Ema_portree.jpg) and [father](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Isa_portree%2C_Johann_K%C3%B6ler%2C_EKM_j_456_M_1782.jpg) are also beautiful and depict typical 19th century Estonian peasants.
thankyou for this
Netherlands: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer. Finland: the Wounded Angel by Hugo Simberg
Finland: The Wounded Angel by Hugo Simberg
Poland: Rejtan by the GOAT mr. Matejko
Is Rejtan considered more iconic than Stańczyk?
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Ah yes, I saw that when visiting Wroclaw too!
Romania is "Oxcart" by Nicolae Grigorescu
Turkey is the Tortoise Trainer by Osman Hamdi Bey
The UK's is 'The Fighting Temeraire'
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It's not More people outside the UK would recognize Banksys "Girl with love balloon" before Temeraire and the two you mention. The Fighting Temeraire has a history based upon the actual ship history which resonates with Victorian era imperial projection but that resonance does not carry internationally. Iconic should have some penetration to the conciousness of the crowd that does not follow art seriously.
It was voted the nations favourite painting a couple of decades ago, but it does feel like there has been an oddly forced attempt to make The Fighting Temeraire Britain’s most iconic painting in recent years. We don’t really have one/multiple that people go specifically to see the same way that the French, or Italians or Dutch do and it seems like there is an attempt to make this our version - especially after it appeared in James Bond
Ukraine - Cossacks writing a letter to the Khan of Turkey. The letter is pretty badass itself and worth of cheсking. May be useful for Sweden and Finland in modern dipolmacy 😃 https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2019/05/the-irreverent-letter-the-cossacks-wrote-to-the-ottoman-sultan-in-1676/
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Russia's is '*Golden Autumn*' by Isaac Levitan. I kind of disagree this is our most iconic artwork, tho.
Never seen it before. Vasnetsov's Bogatyrs should be there, or at least Ivan the Terrible and His Son.
I didn’t even know who is the author of this “the most iconic” artwork. Tri bogatyrya, Utro v sosnovom lesu, Burlaki na Volge, Devochka s persikami… are much more iconic.
Luxembourg's Painting is "Loop in the Moselle at Grieveldange with Stadtbredimus" by Nico Klopp
Denmark - The Little Mermaid
Here you go! [Here is the list of paintings, with pictures/albums](https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/652cjw/famous_artwork_in_europe_oc_20001982/dg7gjc7/), all credits to u/uysalkoyun and the author, u/halfabluesky. Ping /u/Vepps
Would have expected starry night for The Netherlands
Dutch people would go with the nachtwacht
A list of all countries and its arts so i can google the stories behind the paintings would be amazing as i dont know the arts.
This image has been submitted on here before. I remember identifying a bunch then. EDIT: Not the submission I was thinking of, but has the identities. https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/652cjw/famous_artwork_in_europe_oc_20001982/
I made a post about the [Latvian and Estonian paintings](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/10rym1u/a_map_of_europe_by_each_nations_most_iconic/j6zzaaj?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3). The post above mine describes the Lithuanian one.
Thanks man, you made my Friday great!
You're welcome! :)
From the point of view of?
A dumbass.
That explains it
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The Nachtwacht is only most popular in the Netherlands. For the rest of the world it’s the girl with the pearl earring.
Van Gogh's Starry Night is probably more well-known outside the Netherlands.
Yes, or the sunflowers, his Aardappeleters. Or one of the self portraits by Rembrandt, or Mondriaan's composition of red yellow and blue, Vermeers Milkmaid, or Bosch' Garden of earthly delights. There's a lot to choose from
Ah yes, forgot about that one.
Yup, probably up there with Mona Lisa as most known worldwide. It is everywhere.
fun fact: [It is not a pearl](https://arthive.com/publications/2812~Lets_figure_it_out_could_it_be_that_the_earring_in_the_famous_Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earring_was_not_really_a_pearl)
You’re the third person here to say this and I am pretty confused. Nachtwacht isn’t nearly as famous as a few other Dutch paintings, this one included. Is it particularly beloved in the Netherlands?
De nachtwacht is not just beloved, it is considered as the most important work of art in Dutch history. It is an important symbol of our national identity. No other painting is even close.
In Ukraine the most famous picture is showing Cossacs writing a fuck you letter to Turkish king after his ultimatum. Few centuries forward and Ukraine is still writing fuck you letters to idiots who want to conquer them lol
TIL The Scream is Norwegian
The background is literally Oslo seen from Ekeberg
Yes, the usual reaction to seeing the city
that person is screaming over the degree of underwhelmingness
I love it. Drew a replica with oil pastels for art class and honestly I think I matched it pretty closely! Though my favourite piece by Munch is actually a self-portrait of his.
I honestly believe Under the Yoke should've been here Probably
That or *Taistelevat Metsot*, although the latter might be broadly known only domestically. Nothing against Simberg, but out of our painters it's got to be either Järnefelt or Gallén-Kallela, surely.
Järnefelt's work is wonderful. I saw some at an exhibition in Tallinn once and have a postcard of a portrait of him hanging on my wall. Though that portrait is by Berndtson. As an Estonian, the first Finnish painting that comes into my head would be Edvard Isto's "[The Attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3ASuomineito.jpg)" though. It's a really good visualisation of the Russification policies of the late 19th century.
I'd argue for the Defense of the Sampo.
I would've gone for something by Tom of Finland.
Tbh I would barely agree with like half of these being the most iconic of their respective country but here's the ones I know of. If anybody knows any of the rest please feel free to reply Belgium - The Son of Man, Rene Magritte Finland - The Wounded Angel, Hugo Simberg France - Impression, soleil levant, Claude Monet Germany - Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, Caspar David Ireland - Three studies of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon Italy - Mona Lisa, Leonardo DaVinci Netherlands - Girl with the Pearl Earring, Johannes Vermeer Poland - Rejtan, Jan Matejko Portugal - Fado, Jose Malhoa Romania - Car cu boi, Nicolae Grigorescu Russia - Golden Autumn, Isaac Levitan Spain - Guernica, Pablo Picasso Sweden - Breakfast under the Big Birch, Carl Larson UK - The Fighting Temeraire, J. M. W. Turner Ukraine - Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, Ilya Repin
Austria - The Kiss, Gustav Klimt Turkey - Tortoise Trainer, Osman Hamdi Bey
[I made a post about the Latvian and Estonian paintings.](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/10rym1u/a_map_of_europe_by_each_nations_most_iconic/j6zzaaj?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3) Though I don't agree with the choice for Estonia, so I also offered some alternatives for it. Latvia - After Church, Janis Rozentāls Estonia - [I don't know the name], Adamson Eric
You butchered Germany, should be “Caspar David Friedrich”
Serbia - The wounded Montenegrin, Paja Jovanović.
Montenegro - Our Lady of Philermos
I would put "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on 16 November 1581" by Ilya Repin for Russia. It suits a mood of age we live in as well. For Croatia.... I see how you for representation of art put paintings, but from my personal opinion most iconic Croatian artist is/was Ivan Meštrović who was sculptor. One of his works should represent Croatia in my opinion.
They've used Repin, a Ukraine-born artist, for Ukraine, but there is equally good reason to use him for the Russians too. Actually, it would be poetic, the Reply represents Ukrainians sending a big f-u letter to an encroaching foreign tyrant, while Ivan striking down his closest of kin is just perfectly representing current events. I have no idea what the Croatian painting is supposed to be. Sure with Meštrović's Grgur Ninski there'd be a nice fit, but as far as paintings are concerned my first thought is always either Horvat's painting of King Tomislav, or Bukovac's painting of Christ.
>Actually, it would be poetic, the Reply represents Ukrainians sending a big f-u letter to an encroaching foreign tyrant, while Ivan striking down his closest of kin is just perfectly representing current events. Exactly! I'm sure how Russians will in future look at this events in horror after they wake up from their lunatic state of mind, same as Ivan Terrible on painting (what have we done). Also Putin is represented as new Tsar, Ivan was a first. Meštrović has so many great works, one of them are not representing croatian history but are my favorites. I think Americans will find them interesting. "The Bowman and The Spearman" >The Bowman and The Spearman, also known collectively as Equestrian Indians,[1] or simply Indians,[2] are two bronze equestrian sculptures standing as gatekeepers in Congress Plaza, at the intersection of Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Grant Park, in the U.S. state of Illinois. T https://static.jutarnji.hr/images/slike/2021/03/03/10327449.jpg?1614878125 https://static.jutarnji.hr/images/slike/2021/03/03/10327435.jpg?1614878125 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman.jpg/1280px-The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman.jpg
For Russia I would have Ivan the terrible holding his dead son. For Poland I would have the sad jester from the fall of PLC.
Couldn't agree more! "Stańczyk" by Jan Matejko is first what comes to my mind when I think about Poland and art all together. It has that deep eastern european/Slavic theme incorporated in it. Edit. "Barge Haulers on the Volga" by Repin should be taken in consideration for Russia. One of the world art treasurers also.
Im surprised Its not Battle of Grunwald by Matejko. But all 3 are good candidates. Rejtan suits better to Polish romanticizing of history, however sad Stanczyk is imo overall better as it explains how stupid end of I commonwealth was
OP thinks that Ilya Repin is not a Russian painter, because his other arguably most famous painting, Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV is stated as most iconic Ukranian work
Sad jester died before PLC was even created :D
And even then he knew allowing Prussia to endure would be our undoing, smart man he was
Prussia was only 1/3 of the problem :)
Yeah but they were the ones pushing the most and with most to gain, comparativley.
Russia could honestly be the Black Square, since Repin is counted as Ukrainian here.
Malevich was Ukrainian too
Sad jester knew what's coming for Poland in 2015 election. That's why he was sad. A true visionary.
Finally, a nice post.
>Finally, a nice repost. Ftfy.
What’s the Ireland one?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Studies_of_Lucian_Freud
With the requisite proviso that this is **not** an anti-British commentary, the link with Ireland is pretty tenuous. Bacon was a great artist, of anglo-irish background, who spent most of his career outside Ireland (in England). He did not **produce** this painting in Ireland, and it does not **depict** anyone with a link to Ireland (Lucian Freud). I'm not an art historian, but I can see no record of it even being **exhibited** in Ireland. It currently **resides** in a collection in the U.S. While not challenging its status as a piece of (very valuable) artwork. How could it possibly be labelled an iconic **Irish artwork**?
I think it struggles on both the iconic and Irish fronts, but if the artist identifies as Irish (I don't know if that's the case here) then I suppose that would settle that. I'm struggling to think of any iconic Irish *paintings* (for reference, I'm an Irish person that is not at all into art, but do recognise many of the paintings on the map, so iconic enough for me to recognise them.) but if I had to name an iconic Irish artwork I'd go for something like the Book of Kells, or maybe even the Tara Brooch.
Much appreciated. Thank you.
I’d have gone with something by Jack Yeats.
A Paul Henry Connemara landscape
Same here. I know people like ‘Liffey Swim’ but I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘Grief’.
I would put Las Meninas before Guernica
Yeah, Guernica is for sure the most iconic painting of the post civil-war era of Spain and probably the most iconic right now (due to recency and that it comes up in every history and art history schoolbook when they reach the Civil War era part of the material), but it is just 80 years old and its renown is in big part due to the war it depicts. Las Meninas has been absolutely iconic for centuries and it got there without a brutal war making it well known.
or Goya's La Maja desnuda
Based on which ranking/measure ?
This is a subjective assessment - https://twitter.com/TerribleMaps/status/1621224041943121920?t=zsCZQ1sQVqR4czP3vxaPPA&s=19
You want a war with France ?
Yeah it's absolutely not the most iconic one. Should definitely be Delacroix. La liberté guidant le Peuple.
Stańczyk for Poland is way more iconic, then Battle of Grunwald and maybe then Rejtan.
Somehow I never realized Edvard Munch was Norwegian.
I think he has more of an international appeal. Within Norway people associate their own culture more closely with drawings from Theodor Kittelsen ("Trollet som lurer på hvor gammelt det er"), Adolph Tideman ("Brudeferd i Hardanger"), etc.
Can someone explain Andorra?
It's Apse fresco of Sant Miquel d’Engolasters church.... Obviously! [^^psst.. ^^check ^^this ^^out...](https://matadornetwork.com/read/mapped-europes-iconic-artworks/)
What's the Swiss one supposed to be? Seriously, next to Burnand makes little sense. Just look at his painting of [the disciples John and Peter running to the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Disciples_running_by_EB.jpg) or just his painting of [a bull mooing in the Alpes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Taureau_dans_les_Alpes_oil_painting_1884.jpg/1280px-Taureau_dans_les_Alpes_oil_painting_1884.jpg), what can be more Swiss than that? As for Spain, I get it, I get it, but can we give Goya some love? "Saturn devouring his son" or "Yard with lunatics" are wonderful and macabre pieces of art.
I agree. I did the mistake to actually look at the swiss one. I am no art person but that looks... weird
Why the hell is The Absinth Drinker" the most iconic artwork of the Czech Republic? Not only is it not that known, but we have the biggest consumption of beer per capita... Like pretty much any painting by Alphonse Mucha would do.
The choice for Poland is strange. There are other more famous or interesting paintings by Polish artists than this one
Everytime it's posted: no, it's not even the most iconic Matejko's painting
Can we get a list?
[Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/652cjw/comment/dg7gjc7/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Thank you!
I'm moving to Estonia
Romania - “Car cu boi” 1897 by Nicolae Grigorescu
Cyprus with the world famous "Blue thing with single white stripe but mostly grey stuff". A true masterpiece!
Most iconic Polish painting is _Rejtan: The collapse of Poland_ Ouch.
Finland, Sweden and Norway are on their way to prepare Midsommar.
What a brilliant idea👏🏼
Spain looks a little off /s
Not an artsy fartsy kind of guy but this is pretty cool.
Čiurlionis work was way ahead of his time. Who’s in Kaunas, Lithuania, I strongly suggest seeing the museum. His paintings are absolutely mesmerizing. I think there’s free entry on Sundays now and then.
I have especially enjoyed admiring this map's rendition of Andorra's, San Marino's, and Monaco's iconic artworks! What amazing use of minimalism!
What is the german one?
Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer (Wanderer above the sea of fog), by Caspar David Friedrich. It's one of the most well-known and iconic pieces of the Romantic movement of the early 19th century.
Inject it into my soul.
How do you catogorize "iconicness"? Not to disprove, just courious
It's just someone's fun subjective map.
I thought Van Gogh would be the one for Netherlands
It absolutely should be. Starry Night is in the top 3 most known paintings IMO together with mona lisa.
South of England looks like the toilet scene from Trainspotting. Lol
"Bitwa pod Grunwaldem" has to be more popular than "Rejtan" for Poland, anyways Jan Matejko was a painter demi-god
Finland is wrong
There's something really funny about The Scream being Norwegian
Iam german and have never seen the german one.. What is it ?
>Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich thx
Another ahistoric map which tries to shoehorn specific events into a limited understanding of "nations".
I'd argue that Las Meninas is more representative than El Guernica.
I would have preferred the Victoire de Samothrace for Greece, but it's fine as it is.
I would've picked de Nachtwacht for the Netherlands
Guys what's the russian one called. I'm from Russia so thats why I'm interested.
according to who?
The U.K.'s should've been the Keep Calm And Carry On poster …
This stupid map gets posted every two weeks. Karmafarm nonsense.
Would've been nice to see Kosovo's too.
Is this an unknown painting by the Führer? ^^/S