Ridiculous Portrait (Cello, Cherub) 1972

May Wilson created "Ridiculous Portrait (Cello, Cherub)" by collaging her own face onto a classical painting, and it's the kind of gesture that makes you smile and scratch your head at the same time. The skin tones of Wilson's face, with its soft wrinkles and knowing smile, are so different from the Renaissance style of the original artwork, with its muted palette and smooth surfaces. But look closer, and you'll see how Wilson's cheeky addition brings the whole thing to life. It’s like she’s saying, “Hey, art doesn’t have to be so serious!” Wilson’s work reminds me of Dada artists like Hannah Höch, who used collage to critique and poke fun at the art world. But Wilson’s got a sweetness to her absurdity. Art’s always playing with ideas across time, remixing the old with the new, and Wilson’s "Ridiculous Portrait" is a perfect example of how art can be both smart and silly, all at once.