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Famous Art Homages on New Yorker Magazine Covers

I watch a lot of art documentaries, and I’ve got a stack of art history books that never seems to shrink. So when I spotted an older issue of The New Yorker that looked like a cheeky homage to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, I couldn’t help but wonder—how many other covers have been modeled after the greats? Exactly one rabbit hole later, I had gathered a whole stack of them. It felt like uncovering a hidden gallery tucked inside the magazine’s archive, and I figured—why keep that fun to myself?

Classic Paintings Reimagined on New Yorker Magazine Covers

What you’ll see here are covers that borrow from some of the most recognizable works in art history—Van Gogh’s swirls, Botticelli’s goddess, Hopper’s late-night diners, even Magritte’s bowler hats. Each one shows how The New Yorker has long treated its covers like miniature canvases, open to reinterpretation and play.

*Side note: In researching for this piece, I came across this fascinating video about Hokusai’s “Great Wave”. I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Check it out! 

List of New Yorker Covers Inspired by Famous Artists

Below are the covers I found—each one a clever homage to a famous work of art. Some are obvious, some are subtle, but all of them bring a little art history to the front page.

Anita Kunz, “No Photos, Please!” (Aug 29, 2022)
Anita Kunz, “No Photos, Please!” (Aug 29, 2022)
Birgit Schössow, “The Future Is Here” (Nov 28, 2022)
Birgit Schössow, “The Future Is Here” (Nov 28, 2022)
Bob Staake, “The Cloud” (May 14, 2012)
Bob Staake, “The Cloud” (May 14, 2012)
Owen Smith, “Nighthawks New Year” (Dec 27, 1999)
Owen Smith, “Nighthawks New Year” (Dec 27, 1999)
Barry Blitt, “Crossing the Divide” (Nov 1, 2021)
Barry Blitt, “Crossing the Divide” (Nov 1, 2021)
Edward Sorel (May 13, 1996) — Whistler’s Mother
Edward Sorel (May 13, 1996) — Whistler’s Mother
Susan Davis (May 25, 1992) — Botticelli’s Birth of Venus
Susan Davis (May 25, 1992) — Botticelli’s Birth of Venus
Roz Chast, “Venus on the Beach” (Aug 4, 2014) — another Botticelli riff
Roz Chast, “Venus on the Beach” (Aug 4, 2014) — another Botticelli riff
Bob Knox, “A Sunday in the Park” (July 15, 1991) — Seurat’s La Grande Jatte
Bob Knox, “A Sunday in the Park” (July 15, 1991) — Seurat’s La Grande Jatte
André François (Apr 25, 1988) — Van Gogh self-portrait stamp
André François (Apr 25, 1988) — Van Gogh self-portrait stamp
Edward Sorel, “Starry Night” Oscars cover (Mar 29, 1993)
Edward Sorel, “Starry Night” Oscars cover (Mar 29, 1993)
Ilonka Karasz, Sunflowers (Aug 24, 1968)
Ilonka Karasz, Sunflowers (Aug 24, 1968)
Mark Ulriksen, “Stellar Night” (Apr 4, 2022) — Starry Night–inspired
Mark Ulriksen, “Stellar Night” (Apr 4, 2022) — Starry Night–inspired

Did You Know? Some Fun Facts About These Works

The Starry Night’s swirls match the physics of turbulence—Vincent unknowingly painted natural laws that scientists would only describe decades later.

The Great Wave is part of Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji; Fuji is the real star, framed in each print. Hokusai even extended the series by ten more due to demand.

Hopper’s Nighthawks diner scene was modeled with Hopper himself posing as the men, and his wife Josephine as the woman.

Final Thoughts on The New Yorker’s Art-Inspired Covers

That’s the fun of these covers: they’re not only cartoons or clever jokes, they’re small acts of art history nerdery (is that even a word?). Mini masterpieces speaking back to the originals. Spotting them feels like stepping into a conversation between The New Yorker and the canon, and it makes flipping through old issues feel a bit like walking through a museum.

 

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