> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Emoji Art History [UPDATED] - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/emoji-art-history/ - Published: 2013-02-12T04:57:19.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T16:45:37.000Z - Description: Ah, the simplicity of it all. A simple tumblelog post has evolved into a Twitter meme simply named #emojiarthistory. - Author: Hrag Vartanian - Tags: Opinion, Emoji, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 06:51 (2012, 2013, part 1) Ah, the simplicity of it all. A simple tumblelog post has evolved into a Twitter meme simply named [#emojiarthistory](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23emojiarthistory&src=hash&ref=hyperallergic.com). Edvard Munch may be the only artist blessed with [his own emoji](https://hyperallergic.com/momas-hilariously-bizarre-silent-screams/), but it appears the emoji lexicon is quite flexible, particularly when it comes to art. Here is the original Tumblr post by [ladiesupfront.tumblr.com](http://ladiesupfront.tumblr.com/post/41413918076/in-which-i-discover-the-seemingly-limitless?ref=hyperallergic.com): ![in-which-i-discover-the-seemingly-limitless](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/in-which-i-discover-the-seemingly-limitless.jpg) ![tumblr_mh5wirvXdI1qb0jqjo2_1280](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/tumblr_mh5wirvxdi1qb0jqjo2_1280.jpg) ![tumblr_mh5wirvXdI1qb0jqjo3_1280](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/tumblr_mh5wirvxdi1qb0jqjo3_1280.jpg) ![tumblr_mh5wirvXdI1qb0jqjo4_1280](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/tumblr_mh5wirvxdi1qb0jqjo4_1280.jpg) Needless to say, after artist [ManBartlett](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301144301235236864?ref=hyperallergic.com) got his hands on this post he helped spawn a new hashtag. Here are some of our favorites: [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.40.52 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-40-52-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301148303532371969?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.42.13 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-42-13-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301156087611138048?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.42.44 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-42-44-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/joanieStudio/status/301154854917783553?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.43.39 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-43-39-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301148828868964352?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.44.18 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-44-18-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301148303532371969?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.44.45 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-44-45-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/magdasawon/status/301159727092625408?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.45.14 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-45-14-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/alexrolfe/status/301159832805842946?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.45.46 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-45-46-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/Bungy32/status/301159944999297024?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.46.16 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-46-16-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301160489952624640?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.53.47 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-53-47-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301159021031874560?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.46.44 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-46-44-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/VAJIAJIA/status/301160727878696961?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.47.10 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-47-10-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/Bungy32/status/301160934339137536?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.47.58 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-47-58-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/runlolarun/status/301159602924433409?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.48.33 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-48-33-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/Bungy32/status/301164032424034305?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.49.26 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-49-26-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/VAJIAJIA/status/301170243940798466?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.50.00 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-50-00-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/ManoolaTakeTwo/status/301169417969094656?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.50.26 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-50-26-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/VAJIAJIA/status/301169354505064448?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.50.51 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-50-51-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/tcantor/status/301168702190129152?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.51.17 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-51-17-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/VAJIAJIA/status/301168510745321472?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.51.41 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-51-41-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/AndrewAndrew/status/301166619168747521?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.52.20 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-52-20-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/lollopeplusssss/status/301164836589535232?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-11 at 11.52.48 PM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-11-at-11-52-48-pm.png)](https://twitter.com/SarahLDouglas/status/301181443936239618?ref=hyperallergic.com) **UPDATED:** Some newer contributions to the continuing story of #emojiarthistory! [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.11.18 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-11-18-am.png)](https://twitter.com/cavetocanvas/status/301213307963076608?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.12.17 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-12-17-am.png)](https://twitter.com/cavetocanvas/status/301209748232077312?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.12.50 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-12-50-am.png)](https://twitter.com/tweeasfuck/status/301219167040835584?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.13.33 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-13-33-am.png)](https://twitter.com/HairySands/status/301313557885222913?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.14.10 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-14-10-am.png)](https://twitter.com/ManBartlett/status/301151387843182593?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.14.47 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-14-47-am.png)](https://twitter.com/WalnutWood/status/301210230694481920?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.15.27 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-15-27-am.png)](https://twitter.com/WalnutWood/status/301209646562148352?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.15.56 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-15-56-am.png)](https://twitter.com/WalnutWood/status/301211068296986625?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.21.11 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-21-11-am.png)](https://twitter.com/theradiantbaby/status/301218271594676225?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.21.46 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-21-46-am.png)](https://twitter.com/museummammy/status/301216764879060992?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.22.13 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-22-13-am.png)](https://twitter.com/museummammy/status/301210973618982913?ref=hyperallergic.com) And one museum gets into the game, creating emoji versions of work in their collection: [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.16.49 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-16-49-am.png)](https://twitter.com/GettyMuseum/status/301240660558749696?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.17.56 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-17-56-am.png)](https://twitter.com/GettyMuseum/status/301232732904767489?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.18.41 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-18-41-am.png)](https://twitter.com/GettyMuseum/status/301251018312785920?ref=hyperallergic.com) [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.19.15 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-19-15-am.png)](https://twitter.com/GettyMuseum/status/301245097515810816?ref=hyperallergic.com) ![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.19.43 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-19-43-am.png) And this wouldn’t be art history if certain things weren’t contested: [![Screen Shot 2013-02-12 at 10.23.29 AM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/screen-shot-2013-02-12-at-10-23-29-am.png)](https://twitter.com/magdasawon/status/301326857851260929?ref=hyperallergic.com) And one of our readers sent this recent emoji-filled conversation she had with a friend: [![BC6d_sRCAAAvR-email](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/02/bc6d_srcaaavr-email.jpg)](https://twitter.com/ceeevoon/status/301351942616121344?ref=hyperallergic.com)