Art Forms

Painting

The Saddest Paintings in Art History

Of the broad spectrum of human emotions, sadness is the one that has been a common underlying element of many famous artworks to date. The...

Sam Malone 18 September 2024

Anguish August Friedrich Schenck Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Anguish by August Friedrich Schenck

Surrounded by menacing crows, a mother sheep wails in anguish as her lifeless young lamb rests on a snowy bed. This scene, painted by August...

Montaine Dumont 18 September 2024

Anonymous, Exvoto of the miracle done to Maria Gertrudis Castañeda, 1840, Museo Nacional de las Intervenciones, Mexico City, Mexico. North American Art

Ex-voto: The Mexican Art of Gratitude

When tragedy or misfortune happens, some people turn to a greater power. The possibility of divine intervention gives them hope. Usually, these...

Jimena Escoto 17 September 2024

Bizarre

Can You Beat This Beard? Bearded Men in Paintings

According to some fashion experts, beards reached their peak 10 years ago. However, this is not just some seasonal trend. Long, short, trimmed, or...

Magda Michalska 16 September 2024

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Pine Trees by Hasegawa Tōhaku

Japan is a country of distinctive traditional arts such as tea ceremonies, calligraphy, and bonsai. A rich history of artists fills their museums...

James W Singer 15 September 2024

Self Potrait Anthony Van Dyck Painting

Anthony van Dyck: A Master of Baroque Portraiture

Anthony van Dyck was a master of Baroque portraiture, captivating the art world with his skillful depictions of European aristocracy. As a prominent...

Jimena Aullet 12 September 2024

Prehistoric Art

Sacred Signs – Prehistoric Sculpture

It seems that forming figurative shapes out of natural materials has always been with us. As humans developed, a bigger, more sophisticated brain...

Candy Bedworth 12 September 2024

Prehistoric Art

Portable Prehistoric Gods and Goddesses

Our prehistoric ancestors moved around a lot. It was a short and brutal life back then – you needed the protection and guidance of your gods and...

Candy Bedworth 12 September 2024

Saltimbanques Harlequin, 1901 and his Companion by Pablo Picasso (1901) Art State of Mind

Feeling Blue? Color Psychology and Its Use in Art

The year was 1901 when Picasso’s dear friend, Carles Casagemas, committed suicide. That same year, Picasso sank into a deep depression during...

Bruno Guerra 10 September 2024

Baroque

3 Dutch Old Masters You Should Know

You probably are familiar with the names of the famous painters from the Netherlands like Rembrandt, Bosch, Vermeer… But have you heard of Joachim...

Magda Michalska 9 September 2024

Design

The Artistic Totality of Portuguese Azulejos

Azulejos are a major part of Portuguese history and cultural heritage. These hand-crafted tiles have created such a dynamic presence over the...

Marga Patterson 9 September 2024

Haarlem in the Dutch Golden Age: Frans Hals, Banquet of the Officers of the St Adrian Civic Guard (the Calivermen), 1627, Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands. Baroque

4 Surprising Facts About Haarlem in the Dutch Golden Age

The city of Haarlem in the Netherlands was one of the flourishing art centers in the 16th and 17th century. Today, you can walk the streets of the...

Rachel Witte 9 September 2024