Artist Transforms Victorian Portraits Into Modern Pop Culture Trading Cards

Artist Alex Gross transforms 19th-century portraits into amusing mashups with iconic figures of popular culture. Using the sepia-toned photographs as his initial inspiration, Gross paints on cabinet cards (these were a style of portraits mounted on a 4.25-inch by 6.5-inch sheet that had widespread appeal after 1870). When he’s done, the anonymous men and women from yesteryear are retro versions of superheroes, villains, and famous figures from pop culture.

More: Alex Gross, Instagram, Facebook h/t: mymodernmet

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to Design You Trust Facebook page.

More Inspiring Stories

Beautiful Minimalist Pastel Portraits by Japanese Illustrator 192

Stunning Dark Fantasy And Horror Paintings By David Michael Wright, Inspired By 80s Movies And Clive Barker Nightmares

March Of Robots: The Artist Creates a Series of Illustrations to Get out Of His Comfort Zone

Breathtaking Winning Photos from the 2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year

Artist Alexey Malina Has Portrayed The Seven Deadly Sins In A Series Of Minimalist Posters

Street Messages - A New Book By Nicholas Ganz

These Dull Passport Photos Are Hiding Hilarious Secrets

The Superb And Cute Miniature Watercolors By Rachel Beltz

This Artist Reimagines Old Myths & Legends In His Unique, Dark Style

Artist Austin Light Makes Funny Collages From Boring Stock Photos

Local Gas Station Makes Whole Town Laugh With Their Hilarious Signs

This Artist Duo Uses Face As A Canvas To Recreate Famous Classic Paintings

Polish Artist Creates 27 Controversial Illustrations For Political Magazine

"Game Of Sloths": Artist Turned "Game Of Thrones" Characters Into Sloths With Their Best Quotes

Hellboy, Evangelion, and Eight-Legged Mickey Mouse Mutant: Comic Art by James Harren

Apple Depot Earbuds with Mic & Remote

This Iranian Photographer Takes Astonishing Macro Shots of Insects

Amazing Photos Capture Street Scenes of New York City in the 1990s

Photographer John Hinde And His Fabulous Colourful Postcards From The Past

"Pathologic": Imaginative, Bizarre and Otherworldy Paintings of Peter Ferguson

_Ventures IV: The Sci-Fi Visual Aesthetic Project of Exploration and Discovery

It's The End Of The World: Artist Steve McGhee Creates Horrific And Tragic Photo Manipulations Of Catastrophes

Retro-Futuristic Collages Of Frank Moth Venture Between Dreams And Reality

One Eyeland World’s Top Black & White Photographers 2021

Universo Chatarra: The Scrap Universe of Alejandro Burdisio

Haunting Photos Of Moscow’s Young Ravers And Their Lives After Dark

The Graphic Designer Reworking Fashion’s Most Iconic Logos

The Detail And Variety In This Futuristic Concept Art Is Mind-Blowing

Amazing Photographs Of Trees Growing Through Classic Cars

Pornhub Will Use One Of These Clever Ads In Its First National Ad Campaign