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# "David" and "Venus de Milo" Action Figures Put Art History in Motion
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/david-and-venus-de-milo-action-figures-put-art-history-in-motion/
- Published: 2015-10-30T20:37:07.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T15:59:02.000Z
- Description: Have you ever wondered what Michelangelo's "David" would look like if it were kneeling and giving a thumbs up, like a wide receiver who just scored a touchdown?
- Author: Benjamin Sutton
- Tags: In Brief, Antiquities, Auguste Rodin, Michelangelo, toys, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:13 (2014, 2015, part 3)

![FREEing's "David" and "The Thinker" action figures (all images via Good Smile Company)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/david-thinker-action-figures.jpg)

FREEing’s “David” and “The Thinker” action figures (all images via Good Smile Company)

Have you ever wondered what Michelangelo’s “David” would look like if it were kneeling and giving a thumbs up, like a wide receiver who just scored a touchdown? Or what if, instead of being paralyzed by existential anguish and intellectual inquiry, Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” were an Olympian sprinter? These and other art historical what-ifs could soon be at your fingertips thanks to [The Table Museum](http://goodsmile-global.ecq.sc/catalogsearch/result/?q=table+museum&ref=hyperallergic.com), a line of action figures based on iconic sculptures from Japanese toy manufacturer [FREEing](http://www.freeing.co.jp/products/index.html?ref=hyperallergic.com). In addition to “[David](http://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/5294/figma+Davide+di+Michelangelo.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)” and “The Thinker” — available in both [bronze](http://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/4685/figma+The+Thinker.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [plaster](http://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/5080/figma+The+Thinker+Plaster+ver.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) models — the line features a “[Venus de Milo](http://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/5081/figma+Venus+de+Milo.html?ref=hyperallergic.com),” complete with attachable arms.

![FREEing's "Venus de Milo" figure holds an apple and links arms with its "The Thinker" figure](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/venus-thinker-action-figures.jpg)

FREEing’s “Venus de Milo” figure holds an apple and links arms with its “The Thinker” figure

![FREEing's bronze "The Thinker" action figure in a classical reclining nude pose](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/bronze-thinker-action-figure.jpg)

FREEing’s bronze “The Thinker” action figure in a classical reclining nude pose

Though the sale periods for the Venus and Thinker figures have ended, the David action figure is available for preorder until November 25 through the [Good Smile Company](http://goodsmile-global.ecq.sc/frefigwdsp066.html/?utm%5Fsource=GSCPRODUCT&utm%5Fmedium=5294&utm%5Fcampaign=http://goodsmile-global.ecq.sc/frefigwdsp066.html) online toy store. Assuming enough orders are received, the six-inch-tall Renaissance action man will go into production later this year and begin shipping from Japan in May 2016\. In addition to being armed with his trademark, giant-slaying slingshot, he comes with a detachable “thumbs-up” hand and movable eyes. The figures are priced at ¥4800 (\~$40), a pretty good deal for a priceless masterpiece.

*h/t* [*Boing Boing*](https://boingboing.net/2015/10/30/fully-poseable-articulated-mi.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

![The David action figure's movable eyes (gif by the author)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/david-action-figure-eyes.gif)

The David action figure’s movable eyes (gif by the author)