Video Game Logic - The truth

Bootlegging.

Giorgio de Chirico, actually.

Ico's cover art is basically The Nostalgia of the Infinite with the scenery replaced with part of one of the game's levels.

You'll also notice that OP's image is actually an even more direct reference to said painting, as well as The Disquieting Muses (by the same artist).

Mad props to the artist (behind the OP image, that is) for doing their homework!