INSPIRATION EQUATION

The Inspiration Equation: How Our Favorite Art Comes Together

What was the thought process behind some of our favorite artworks? A speculative illustrated guide, straight ahead.

Portrait of Robert and Ethel Scull, 1965: Courtesy of The George and Helen Segal Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY; sherbet, retired couple: Getty Images; Bruno & Yoyo, 2015: Courtesy of the artist and Vito Schnabel Gallery, St. Moritz/Photograph by Stefan Altenburger;
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Dali image, 1941: Salvador Dali/Fundacion Gala-Salvador Dali, Figueres, 2014; Croatia memorial: Peter Franc Images; Schiaparelli boots: Courtesy of the artist; Mountainous Figure, 1999–2000: George Condo/Courtesy Skarstedt Gallery, New York;
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Fountain, 1964: Succession Marcel Duchamp/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London, 2016; Trump apartment: Scott Frances/Otto; A Descent into the Maelstrom: Culture Club/Getty Images; America, 2016: Kris McKay/Courtesy of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation;
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Dr. Strangelove: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures; Atomic Explosion: Getty Images; Untitled (I Thought You Were Someone Else), 2008: Private collection, Moscow/Courtesy Mary Boone Gallery, New York;
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Painter’s palette, cardboard box: Getty Images; Pinocchio: Everett Collection; Untitled (The Skies Remembered II, French Mask M31.e), 2014: Courtesy of the artist/photograph by Douglas M. Parker Studio;
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Portrait of Robert and Ethel Scull, 1965: Courtesy of The George and Helen Segal Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY; sherbet, retired couple: Getty Images; Bruno & Yoyo, 2015: Courtesy of the artist and Vito Schnabel Gallery, St. Moritz/Photograph by Stefan Altenburger;