Blue Monday: 10 Sad Masterpieces from Art History

Blue Monday, the third Monday of January, is considered the saddest day of the year. The concept was allegedly introduced by psychologist Cliff Arnall of Cardiff University, who pinpointed this date as the moment when people realize the holidays are over and the next vacation is far away. Despite the pseudoscientific basis, the notion has gained popularity in advertising and social media. Artribune has curated a list of ten melancholic artworks from art history, including Giotto's 'Lamentation of Christ', Antonello da Messina's 'Ecce Homo', Albrecht Dürer's 'Melencolia I', Edvard Munch's 'Melancholy', and works by Vincent van Gogh, Francisco Goya, Edgar Degas, Edward Hopper, and Pablo Picasso's Blue Period. The selection aims to provide a cathartic experience, allowing viewers to purge negative emotions through artistic fiction.