8 Intriguing Perspectives on Renowned Artworks

Since not all artists provide explicit explanations or documentation regarding the meaning of their work, some of the most iconic pieces in art history have been open to a range of interpretations. Here’s a look at a few famous works that have sparked multiple—and occasionally contentious—readings over time.

The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) // Jan van Eyck

At first glance, Jan van Eyck’s portrait of a couple in a room might seem simple, but it has become one of the most discussed paintings in art history. In the 20th century, Erwin Panofsky introduced one of the most well-known interpretations, suggesting that it wasn’t merely a portrait but also a legal document (akin to a marriage certificate) confirming the union. This theory sparked further debate after it was revealed that the Arnolfini couple didn’t marry until years later, meaning that if the portrait was a certificate, it couldn’t have been for them. Nevertheless, Panofsky’s theory continues to be referenced in discussions about the painting and its evolving interpretations.

The Garden of Earthly Delights (1490-1500) // Hieronymus Bosch

The mystery surrounding the life of Hieronymus Bosch has led to numerous interpretations of his work. One intriguing but lesser-known theory focuses on a detail in The Garden of Earthly Delights, which some believe is linked to Bosch’s creation of the painting.

An amputated foot near a pig in a nun’s habit is thought by some to reference a type of gangrene known as “St. Anthony’s Fire,” which was caused by eating grain contaminated by ergot fungus. Consuming the fungus resulted in hallucinations (which later contributed to the creation of LSD in the 20th century). One interpretation of the painting suggests that Bosch created it while suffering from the after-effects of ergot poisoning, potentially explaining some of the more bizarre elements in the artwork.

Mona Lisa (1503/1519) // Leonardo da Vinci

Considered one of the most iconic paintings of all time, the Mona Lisa has sparked countless debates and interpretations, from the identity of the subject to the possibility that Leonardo created multiple versions of the painting. One of the most intriguing theories is that the subject is not, as widely believed, the Florentine woman Lisa del Giocondo (whose husband commissioned the painting), but rather a self-portrait of the artist himself. Using computer analysis to compare the Mona Lisa with a known self-portrait of Leonardo, scholar Lillian F. Schwartz coined the term Mona/Leo and argued that Leonardo modeled the face of the Mona Lisa after his own. She even took her findings to Unsolved Mysteries, and you can watch the segment here.

Laura (1506) // Giorgione

Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco—better known as Giorgione—is an artist surrounded by so much mystery that the 2021 book Giorgione’s Ambiguities was dedicated to exploring his life and works. So, it’s no surprise that the meaning behind one of his most renowned paintings remains a topic of debate.

The painting widely recognized as Laura, currently housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, never clearly identifies its subject. However, it’s been suggested that the woman portrayed could be Laura de Noves, who is thought to be the same Laura who inspired many of Petrarch’s love poems. Another theory posits that the laurel in the background symbolizes the woman’s fidelity and truthfulness, a symbolic gesture possibly requested by the man who commissioned the painting.

Das Eismeer (1823-24) // Caspar David Friedrich

‘Das Eismeer.’ | Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

19th-century artist Caspar David Friedrich’s works often examined humanity’s connection with nature. One of his most powerful paintings, Das Eismeer (The Sea of Ice), is widely seen as a grim portrayal of human vulnerability in the face of nature’s wrath. The scene depicts a shipwreck in a frozen sea, but the ice takes center stage instead of the wrecked ship, symbolizing nature’s dominance over human creations. The sharp, angular ice slabs are often interpreted as gravestones, representing the inevitable death of those on the ill-fated voyage. Friedrich was influenced by the Arctic explorations of his time, particularly William Edward Parry’s North-West Passage expedition in 1819-20. While Parry safely returned from his journey, Friedrich’s painting captures a disaster, reflecting the grim reality of many polar expeditions. Additionally, the piece has been seen as a form of political commentary, reflecting the artist’s dissatisfaction with the political situation in Germany and the growing repression of political freedoms during that period.

The Starry Night (1889) // Vincent van Gogh

‘The Starry Night.’ | VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images

The Starry Night is part of a series of night-time paintings created by Van Gogh. In this iconic 1889 work, Van Gogh magnified certain features—such as the colors and the shapes of the stars—more so than in his other nocturnal pieces, which has sparked much speculation about his motivations.

Some have suggested that this painting—made during Van Gogh’s stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in the late 1880s—might reflect his struggle with mental health. One theory proposes that the vibrant yellow swirls in the painting are a result of Van Gogh’s overuse of the drug digitalis, which, according to a study in the Western Journal of Medicine, caused those who consumed large amounts to experience “yellow spots surrounded by coronas.”

The Scream (1893) // Edvard Munch

‘The Scream.’ | Print Collector/GettyImages

The Scream presents a man crying out against a sky that burns with fiery hues, making it one of the most iconic images in art history. The origins of the red sky in Munch’s painting have sparked numerous debates: Some believe it was inspired by the artist’s memory of witnessing skies glowing with the aftermath of a volcanic eruption, while others think it resembles the appearance of nacreous clouds.

Étant donnés (1946-1966) // Marcel Duchamp

Famed for his playful and experimental approach to art, Marcel Duchamp pulled off one of his most mysterious and significant works in complete secrecy: Étant donnés: 1° la chute d'eau / 2° le gaz d'éclairage (translated as Given: 1. The Waterfall, 2. The Illuminating Gas …). During a time when many thought he had abandoned art to focus on chess, Duchamp created this scene which can be glimpsed by peering through small holes in a door. The image reveals the torso and legs of a naked woman lying on twigs, holding a lamp, with a functioning waterfall in the background.

The artist spent 20 years crafting the assemblage and left no explanation for its meaning. Some have even speculated that the piece alludes to the infamous murder of Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia. However, curators at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the work is housed, dispute this theory, noting that Duchamp began Étant donnés in 1946, a full year before Short’s death.