Amazing Strangest Paintings

Strange and unusual artworks have been part of the art world throughout history. Through these artists had the ability to depict and show emotions they could not otherwise express through regular paintings.

The Ugly Duchess Quinten Massys

Flemish artist Quinten Massys created this oil on an oak panel. It depicts an old woman with wrinkled skin and withered breasts. She has the aristocratic horne headdress on her head and holds a red flower in her right hand which then symbolized engagement, indicating she was trying to attract a suitor.This is known as the artist's best-known painting.

The Lovers Rene Magritte

Belgian surrealist artist Rene Magritte created this oil on canvas depicting a couple kissing with each of their heads covered in cloth. Supposedly symbolizing two figures without faces who were only thinking about themselves.

Dante and Virgil in Hell William Bouguereau

French academic artist William Bouguereau created this oil-on-canvas depicting a scene from "Divine Comedy" by Dante. It tells the tale of a journey through Hell taken by Dante and his guide Virgil. The viewer sees two damned souls in eternal combat. One of the souls is an alchemist and heretic named Capocchio. He is being bitten on the neck by the trickster Gianni Schicchi, who had used fraud to claim another man's inheritance.

The Vegetable Gardener Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Italian artist Guiseppe Arcimboldo created this oil-on-canvas painting depicting a bowl of vegetables the other way up showing a human face. Some interpreted this as Piapus, the ithyphallic pagan god of fertility and protector of gardens.

Le Chat Blanc Pierre Bonnard

French artist Pierre Bonnard made this very unusal oil done on cardboard of a white cat with very long legs.

Gabrielle d’Estrees and One of her Sisters Francois Clouet

This unusual painting was created by an unknown artist..It depicts Gabrielle d'Estrées, mistress of King Henry IV of France, sitting in a bath, holding a ring. Her sister Julienne-Hyppolite-Joséphine sits beside her and pinches d'Estrées' right nipple. The women appear to be revealed by a parted curtain as if it was a stage play

Magdalena Ventura with Her Husband and Son Jusepe de Ribera

Italian artist Jusepe de Ribera created this painting depicting Magdalena Ventura standing and nursing her babr with her husband standing in the shadows. The Duke of Alcalá was moved to commission the painting based on rumors that he had heard about her being that she had heavy facial hair growth.

The Screaming Monkey Cat Abraham Mignon

Still life artist Abraham Mignon was a master of realism. In this painting he depicts a cat playing with a mousetrap and upseting a vase of flowers. Among the tulips, irises, poppies, and peonies one can see ants, spiders, caterpillars, and snails.

The Sphinx Georg Von Rosen

Swedish artist Georg Von Rosen has created a very unusual painting. It depicts a cat lady with her head on the body of a lioness.

The Magical Songs and Chicken Feet Arnold Böcklin

Swiss artist Arnold Bocklin became one of the leading figures of German Symbolism. His artwork depicts Northern European myths and legends and stories from ancient Greek mythology. Here you can see Satyrs, nymphs, and mermaids were characters typically were seen in artworks made by Böcklin. These were joined by sirens, half-women, and half-birds, who lured ship crews into death with their beauty and magical singing.

Leda and the Swam Paul Cezanne

French artist Paul Cezanne got inspired by mythology. In this painting he depict a tale of Greek legend Zeus. According to Greek legend, Zeus turned himself into a swan to seduce Leda, the wife of the Spartan king Tyndareus. As a result, Leda gave birth to twins, one of which was named Helen, who would later become the infamous Helen of Troy.