Author: Steve Melcher

William Maw Egley, English

“Oh Please, You Look Beautiful. Trust Me, I Would Tell You If Your Roots Were Showing,” 1857

Oil on canvas

John George Brown, American

“Hey Look, Invisible Man! I Found Your Dog!,” 1876

Oil on panel

Gerrit Dou, Dutch

Elderly Woman Reviewing the Ground Rules For Her Upcoming Bout With Jake Paul, ca. 1660-65

Oil on panel

Johann Baptist Reiter, Austrian

If They Expected To Be Taken Seriously As a Synchronized Swimming Team, the Women Were Definitely Going To Have To Step Up Their Choreography, Date Unknown

Oil on canvas

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Austrian

“Okay Folks, Could We Adjust Your Eyelines a Bit? Ma’am, If You Would, Look Directly Into Your Husband’s Eyes and Not So Much at His Toupée,” 1824

Oil on panel

Frederik Vermehren, Danish

There Are Two Exciting New Innovations on This Year’s Broadcast of the International Harvesting Tournament: “Super Sow-Mo” and “Instant Reap-Play,” 1859

Oil on canvas

Ricardo López-Cabrera, Spanish

“Yes, I Absolutely Do Think We Should Do It In Here. Why Waste All the Money We Paid For This Extra Soundproofing?,” ca. 1895

Oil on wood

Jehan Georges Vibert, French

It’s All Fun and Games Spying on Your Sunbathing Neighbor Until She Puts Super Glue on the Wall, Date Unknown

Oil on panel