In the past couple of years, more people have been going gluten-free. Some do it for health reasons, and others try it to improve their diets and lose weight. Even websites like NoBread have been created to help people eat gluten-free when they go out.
The trend has extended to artwork with Gluten Free Museum, a Tumblr account that focuses on taking the gluten out of famous paintings and film scenes. It shows how often gluten sneakily appears in any medium, regardless of artist and time period. Here are some of my favorites:
The Lady and the Tramp
Everyone knows the famous pasta-eating scene in the Disney movie The Lady and the Tramp.
But, without the pasta, the two dogs are left with an empty table. Spoiler alert: how are they supposed to accidentally kiss?
Tomb of Sennedjem
In this piece of a stucco painting in his tomb, Sennedjem, an Ancient Egyptian artisan, is depicted as reaping wheat in the mythical fields of Iaru, Egypt.
Without the wheat, Sennedjem just looks like he’s playing charades – like he’s miming a servant fanning his master with a large palm leaf.
American Gothic
Grant Wood’s American Gothic is very well-known, one of the most recognizable images in 20th-century American art.
If there’s no wheat to farm, then the farmer has no reason to have a pitchfork.
Le Petit Parisian
Willy Ronis’ Le Petit Parisian depicts a seemingly mischievous boy running with bread, a fellow foodie in the making.
No bread = no fun in my book. But this picture still looks good without the bread.
Guinness
Here’s an old ad for Guinness, an Irish dry stout.
Many stouts, ales, and beers have gluten, so Guinness is turned into Guess.
The Simpsons
Chief Wiggum is the stereotypical police officer, often holding coffee and donuts.
He’s just not as funny without his donut.
Summer
Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s Summer is just one of his numerous paintings that basically depict produce people.
Without the wheat, Summer shows one of fundamental components of a healthy gluten-free diet: vegetables.