Faulty Faces

http://looneybooks79.blog/2026/04/02/stupid-faces-in-stunning-paintings/

Art, one of my great loves—especially painting. Because who can’t enjoy the beautiful works left behind by masters like Van Eyck, Van Gogh, Bacon, and so many others for us to admire?

But art is not always meant to depict beauty. Sometimes, you might spot an ugly figure appearing in a painting. Umberto Eco already wrote two books about this—On Beauty and especially On Ugliness (both highly recommended!). And now Matthijs Van Mierlo has published a work that focuses on a number of striking faces, offering his insights into these particular “mugs.” (Below, I’ve added a few examples from the book.)

Starting from a detail in a painting, Matthijs introduces the story behind a face he labels a “stupid face” (this could be a human, god, demon, animal, or angel), and he poses a few questions about that specific detail, often referencing contemporary cultural elements (mentioning ketchup in relation to a 16th-century painting… I suspect that culinary delicacy (?) didn’t exist back then). But then he zooms out, giving us “the bigger picture,” fully immersing us in the stunning painting in which this (or sometimes several) detail(s) can be found. (He’s also not afraid to take an extra intermediate step, keeping us in suspense a little longer.) Along the way, we’re thoroughly informed about the who, how, what, and why—you get the idea!

Of all the books I’ve read and browsed through this year, I’ve had the most enjoyment from Stupid Faces in Stunning Paintings. It’s presented in a playful way, yet it offers so much insight into works I previously viewed very differently. Symbolism, of course, often plays a crucial role, and with a bit of extra background, we always end up seeing more.

You can also follow Matthijs Van Mierlo on social media, such as Instagram, under the name Thegaze_art, where he has essentially been doing for years what is now compiled into book form. So these fifty paintings are just a small selection from his vast knowledge of artworks spread all over the world.

Oh, and thanks to the list at the back, I now know where most of the works can be found. As for those in private collections—I’d love to submit a request to see them in person someday. If anyone knows someone who owns one, let me know