Art History in Pop Culture – 2022 Edition

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

The last year is now in our rearview mirror, so let’s have a quick look back at some VERY cool art historical references in the pop culture that was 2022!

The Sandman – Season 1 now on Netflix

Neil Gaiman’s comic book epic following the incredible adventures of Morpheus, King of Dreams, has finally made it to the small screen. Each episode is a tour de force of storytelling and epic visuals, but I want to highlight one scene in particular.

Lucifer Morningstar rules over the kingdom of Hell and because this character has it out for Morpheus, we the viewers, get to see a bit of the devil’s domain. In the series finale, we get a closer look at Lucifer’s palace and I noticed something very interesting in the scenic design.

Here is a quick screen grab from the finale… does it look familiar?

Shout out to the art directors of The Sandman for their subtle (or not so subtle!) reference to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for the square/piazza outside Lucifer Morningstar’s palace. This has a lot of super awesome art and religious layers, so buckle up!

It is believed that the remains of St. Peter are housed in the basilica, as he is considered the first pope. Interestingly, some Christian legends suggest St. Peter greets dead folks at the “pearly gates” of heaven. This could be because Christ was said to have given Peter the “keys to the kingdom,” which is also why St. Peter is sometimes depicted with his saintly attribute (symbol) of a set of keys.

Incidentally, Peter was martyred via crucifixion, but did not want to draw attention away from the death of his rabbi (Jesus), so he requested that he be crucified upside down. This results in an even more torturous death and what is symbolically known as St. Peter’s cross, an inverted Latin cross. This makes the upside down cross a Christian symbol, though in recent decades it has been appropriated by other groups.

Regarding the piazza at St. Peter’s basilica, historians suggest that the curving colonnades that surround the square were designed to reflect the open and outstretched arms of The Church welcoming sinners back home. This architectural interpretation is even more impactful in The Sandman as it suggests the open and outstretched arms of Lucifer Morningstar welcoming beings back home… to hell.

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

Atlanta – All Seasons now on Hulu

Donald Glover’s amazing and wildly creative series Atlanta concluded this year with Season 3 debuting in the spring and Season 4 concluding the story of rapper Paper Boi, his cousin/manager Earn, Darius and Van this past fall. Atlanta is a series that peppers its storytelling with elements of the fantastic with a whole lot of emphasis on magical realism. Season 3 sees our main characters in Europe as Paper Boi continues his world tour.

Surrealism played a big role in the marketing for Season 3. Here’s an example…

Plus, Episode 2 of Season 3 takes place in Amsterdam. Check out Darius’ shirt!

The art historical references continue in Season 4, specifically in Episode 9. Titled “Andrew Wyeth, Alfred’s World,” we see Paper Boi (aka Alfred) living on his “safe farm” and taking a break from life as a successful rapper. Cheers to the entire creative team at Atlanta (especially the Director of Photography and Colorist!) for the stunning references to Andrew Wyeth’s work.

Check out the following screen grabs from that episode compared to two Andrew Wyeth paintings…

“Christina’s World,” Andrew Wyeth, 1948
“Christina Olson,” Andrew Wyeth, 1947

Lizzo’s Performance on Saturday Night Live now on Peacock

Lizzo performed her song “Break Up Twice” on the December 17th episode of SNL and the costuming and set design for her performance was striking and profound.

Lizzo referenced the painting Blue Monday (ca. 1985) by artist Annie Lee and the results were powerfully moving. The weariness and emotional turmoil of the figure in the painting translates beautifully to the stage as Lizzo assumes the role of a woman struggling with whether or not to continue a contentious relationship.

You can watch Lizzo’s performance by following this link…

Plus, you can read more about the original painting and the artist by checking out this article…

How Lizzo’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ Performance Paid Visual Homage to Artist Annie Lee’s Iconic Painting, ‘Blue Monday’

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.