EPISODE 26: Neal Found A Dead Body

PROMPTS: 1958, Ship, Mustard Yellow

This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren dive into two fascinating works that capture grandeur, tragedy, and larger-than-life imagery.

Lauren takes listeners back to the 16th century with Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, an artwork that redefines mythological storytelling. She explores how Bruegel subverts the dramatic morality tale of Icarus by making his downfall barely noticeable in the scene, instead focusing on the ordinary world continuing as tragedy strikes. From the hidden symbolism to the rich history of Bruegel’s artistic style, Lauren unpacks why this painting is a masterclass in subtle storytelling.

Meanwhile, Neal explores Attack of the 50-Foot Woman (1958) through the lens of its legendary movie poster. Instead of focusing on the film itself, Neal highlights the work of Reynold Brown, the artist behind over 300 classic Hollywood posters. From atomic-age paranoia to the feminist undertones of a vengeful, towering woman, Neal explains how this iconic artwork became more famous than the film it advertised. Plus, he shares a hilarious story about how Brown secretly inserted something into one of his posters to get back at people.