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# Stock Photos of the Generic Art World
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/stock-photos-of-the-generic-art-world/
- Published: 2014-01-16T21:07:01.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:33:59.000Z
- Description: I don't remember which social media link triggered my descent into the rabbit hole of art-related stock imagery on 123RF, but after a little a while I realized that I had taken the blue pill.
- Author: Hrag Vartanian
- Tags: Art, Photo Essays, Photography, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:03 (2014, 2015, part 1)

[![6697230_m-640-23](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-23.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F6848466%5Fa-young-museum-curator-acquiring-collection-items.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

I don’t remember which social media link triggered my descent into the rabbit hole of art-related stock imagery on [123RF](http://www.123rf.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), but after a little a while I realized that I had taken the blue pill. (I’m mixing my *Alice in Wonderland* imagery with *The Matrix*, but forgive me.)

Yes, this world is mostly white and very thin. Men look unusually well put-together, while women are sexy, wear lipstick in the studio, and sometimes give the viewer [come-hither looks](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F19213616%5Fsculptor-in-studio.html?ref=hyperallergic.com).

The art world, if these stock images are to be believed, acts out its rituals in white heavenly rooms where art is blurred and sometimes the subject of laughter. Reality? [Fiction](http://disimages.com/photos/view/548?ref=hyperallergic.com)? It’s art … world. The text at the top is the verbatim description supplied by [123RF](http://www.123rf.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com).

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-2.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F6697230%5Fa-young-museum-curator-acquiring-collection-items.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-studio](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-studio.jpg)](https://www.123rf.com/photo%5F5494581%5Fartist-observing-artist-s-model-in-studio.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-isola](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-isola.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F22657381%5Fartist-woman-at-work-isolated.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-vietnam](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-vietnam.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F21184851%5Fhai-duong-vietnam-july-25-the-artist-is-drawing-la-landscape-painting-in-his-studio-on-july-25-2013-.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-clay](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-clay.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F9987911%5Fsculptor-working-on-a-human-figurine-in-clay.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-graff](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-graff.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F11851195%5Fgraffiti-painter-drawing-a-picture-on-the-wall.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-graffwoman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-graffwoman.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F14959022%5Fgirl-holding-spray-against-graffiti-wall.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-laugh](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-laugh.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F22573581%5Fpeople-standing-in-front-of-contemporary-sculpture-talking-about-it-and-laughing-in-an-art-gallery.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-em](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-em.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F22573870%5Fgroup-of-people-stading-in-a-room-looking-and-pointing-at-the-empty-frames-displayed-on-white-walls.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-insp2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-insp2.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F11185399%5Fartist-by-the-easel-looking-for-inspiration.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-beret](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-beret.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F12885400%5Ffrench-artist-in-beret-with-three-brushes.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-silh](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-silh.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F9616986%5Feditable-silhouettes-of-people-at-an-art-auction.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

[![6697230_m-640-dog](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/01/6697230_m-640-dog.jpg)](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F15071729%5Fpainter-artist-dog-color-palette.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

*Image credits:* [*massonforstock / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F11851195%5Fgraffiti-painter-drawing-a-picture-on-the-wall.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*damedeeso / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F15071729%5Fpainter-artist-dog-color-palette.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*shotsstudio / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F22573870%5Fgroup-of-people-stading-in-a-room-looking-and-pointing-at-the-empty-frames-displayed-on-white-walls.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*Tawng / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F9616986%5Feditable-silhouettes-of-people-at-an-art-auction.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*poznyakov / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F22657381%5Fartist-woman-at-work-isolated.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*shotsstudio / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F22573581%5Fpeople-standing-in-front-of-contemporary-sculpture-talking-about-it-and-laughing-in-an-art-gallery.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*kwasny221 / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F14959022%5Fgirl-holding-spray-against-graffiti-wall.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*marcovarro / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F9987911%5Fsculptor-working-on-a-human-figurine-in-clay.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*moodboard / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F5494581%5Fartist-observing-artist-s-model-in-studio.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*leshabu / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F11185399%5Fartist-by-the-easel-looking-for-inspiration.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*bryndin / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F12885400%5Ffrench-artist-in-beret-with-three-brushes.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* [*dinhngochung / 123RF Stock Photo*](http://www.123rf.com/photo%5F21184851%5Fhai-duong-vietnam-july-25-the-artist-is-drawing-la-landscape-painting-in-his-studio-on-july-25-2013-.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)