Asian Art

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, ca 1766-1833, lacquered gilt wood, Vietnam, Musée Guimet, Paris, France. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara was donated to the Musée Guimet in Paris, France, in 1889 by French archeologist Gustave Dumoutier. It represents the...

James W Singer 7 December 2023

Asian Art

Late Mughal Atelier: An Art Historical Journey Through Two Masterpieces by Fayzullah

Fayzullah was a renowned artist of the royal Mughal atelier in the late 18th century, during the reign of Alamgir II. Two of his masterpieces,...

Maya M. Tola, 7 December 2023

Striding Lion, 604-562 BCE, glazed clay bricks, Processional Way, Babylon, Iraq, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Striding Lion from the Ishtar Gate

Striding Lion is a masterpiece of Mesopotamian art with monumental size and composition. It symbolizes the strength of King Nebuchadnezzar II and the...

James W Singer 5 December 2023

Sculpture

A Great Mystery: Sanxingdui Masks

Who doesn’t love a mystery? Especially an art history mystery. Made by a previously unknown Chinese kingdom, the 3,000-year-old bronze...

Nadine Waldmann 30 November 2023

Contemporary Art

5 Japanese Contemporary Artists You Have to Know

Japanese artistic tradition spans centuries and has a far-reaching influence. Today, the artistic scene in Japan is more dynamic than ever, and these...

Carlotta Mazzoli 27 November 2023

Review

The History of Folding Screens—A Stunning Exhibition in Milan

The exhibition, Paraventi: Folding Screens from the 17th to 21st Centuries at Milan’s Fondazione Prada, will be on view until February 22nd,...

Lisa Scalone 23 November 2023

Literature

Most Beautiful Qurans You Must See

Three monotheistic religions are the so-called “religions of the book”. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all refer back to a spoken, and...

Magda Michalska 13 November 2023

henna in indian paintings Asian Art

Henna in Indian Paintings

Henna in Indian painting observes a symbolic as well as celebratory value. Henna or Mehndi is a significant cultural aspect of Indian culture. For...

Urvi Chheda 9 November 2023

Painting

Company School: Transition to Indian Modern Art

The Indian court painters of the mid-18th century (known for their mastery of rich Mughal and Rajput styles) shifted their renderings to the demanded...

Urvi Chheda 9 November 2023

Ancient Art

Blues of Babylon: The Ishtar Gate

Babylon, the ancient Mesopotamian city (modern-day Iraq) existed from the 18th century to the 6th century BCE. Since that time its legend has...

Nadine Waldmann 6 November 2023

Architecture

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – A Contemporary Architectural Marvel

Located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a contemporary architectural triumph that synthesizes different...

Maya M. Tola 2 October 2023

Art Travels

The Largest Religious Monument in the World: Angkor Wat in Cambodia

The Khmer kingdom thrived in the Cambodian region from the 9th to 15th centuries with an empire that stretched all the way from modern-day Myanmar...

Maya M. Tola 27 September 2023