European Art

Women Artists

Under Royal Protection: 4 Female Court Painters to Know

Throughout history, art has always played an important role in royal propaganda across Europe. Royal families were in a race to employ the best...

Gokce Dyson 3 June 2026

Women Artists

Rachel Ruysch in 5 Paintings

Rachel Ruysch was a Dutch still-life artist renowned for her elaborate and lifelike floral paintings. Her talent earned her a position as a court...

Nikolina Konjevod 3 June 2026

Vanitas painting with dark background. On the table are flowers, a scalloped dish filled with almonds, dates, and raisins, and pretzels on a pewter dish. There is also a pewter urn, a gold goblet, and wine glass filled with a red liquid. Women Artists

10 Women of the Dutch Golden Age

The art produced during the Dutch Golden Age is known for its beautiful genre scenes, landscapes, and still lifes. However, the artists associated...

Lauren Kraut, Nicole Ganbold 2 June 2026

Artist Stories

Painting a Woman: The Story of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener Through Their Art

The Danish landscape artist Lili Elvenes (1882-1931), born Einar Wegener and better known as Lili Elbe, and her spouse, the Art Deco portrait artist...

Iolanda Munck 2 June 2026

Art State of Mind

Why Is St Sebastian a Gay Icon?

One may think that Christian saints have little in common with gay culture, but there is an exception to every rule. If you see a handsome guy in his...

Magda Michalska 2 June 2026

Erotica

Tom of Finland: Embracing Eroticism and Queer Desire

Meet Tom of Finland, the artist that inspired the looks of Freddie Mercury, Rob Halford and the Village People. He was friends with Robert...

Joanna Kaszubowska 2 June 2026

Egon Schiele paintings. Egon Schiele, Portrait of Wally Neuzil, 1912. Leopold Museum, Vienna, Austria. Expressionism

10 Egon Schiele Paintings That Defined a Life and a Movement

Egon Schiele lived for 28 years and painted as though he knew exactly how many years he had. Few bodies of work in modern art carry the biographical...

Errika Gerakiti 1 June 2026

Review

Canova and His World—Breaking the Rules of Classical Art

Antonio Canova had an international practice and superstar status as a sculptor during his lifetime, but his works today can often seem bland and...

Catriona Miller 1 June 2026

Artist Stories

Max Ernst and Birds: A Relationship Explained Through Paintings

Max Ernst (1891–1976) was a prolific German avant-garde artist. He was a pioneer in the early 20th-century movements of Dada and Surrealism and...

Anastasia Tsaleza 1 June 2026

Berthe Morisot, Summer's Day Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Summer’s Day by Berthe Morisot

Berthe Morisot was at the centre of Impressionism during the 1870s and 1880s and works like Summer’s Day seem utterly characteristic of the...

Catriona Miller 31 May 2026

Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999, steel, bronze, marble. Stavros Niarchos Cultural Foundation, Athens, Greece. Author's photo. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Maman by Louise Bourgeois

Maman is one of the most iconic sculptures ever created. Its dimensions are monumental, and it can only be installed either outdoors or in an...

Errika Gerakiti 31 May 2026

Marie-Denise Villers, Self-Portrait, 1802, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Self-Portrait by Marie-Denise Villers

Self-Portrait by Marie-Denise Villers showcases the genius of a leading female artist of Napoleonic...

James W Singer 31 May 2026