WTF Art History

Love Story

Lovebirds and Life Partners – Famous Artist Couples

Al Green famously sang “Let’s Stay Together” but artists are notorious for tempestuous relationships that often end badly. But hey, let’s...

Candy Bedworth 12 February 2024

Art History 101

Arte Povera: Aesthetics of the Ordinary

In memory of the world-famous Italian art critic Germano Celant, who himself in 1967 invented the term Arte Povera, translated as “Poor Art”, we...

Caroline Galambosova 12 February 2024

History

The Fascinating World of Victorian Cards & Postcards

Who doesn’t enjoy receiving a postcard from a loved one? An alternative to sending formal letters, postcards were first introduced during the...

Ruxi Rusu 7 February 2024

Art State of Mind

Christmas Cards Made by Artists

One of the most cherished Christmas traditions is the exchange of cards, a practice rooted in the early 19th century when John Callcott Horsley made...

Andreea Iancu 7 February 2024

Bizarre

Miyatake Gaikotsu and His Puzzling Postcards

At the beginning of the 20th century, when Japan started embracing the West and rapid industrialization of almost all aspects of life, Miyatake...

Magda Michalska 7 February 2024

Artist Stories

Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge – The Everlasting Friendship

Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge were inseparable for years. Although it was never proven that there was something romantic between the two of them,...

Zuzanna Stańska 6 February 2024

Music

Have You Seen These Statues of Famous Musicians?

There are good, bad, and ugly statues of the musical greats. Let’s take a look at 10 sculptures of famous musicians, old and contemporary, that...

Candy Bedworth 1 February 2024

Ice Skaters in Painting Sport

Ice Skaters in Painting

Some time ago I went to the ice rink and I realized again how fun it is to glide and feel light (or very heavy when you fall). So I thought it would...

Magda Michalska 31 January 2024

Sport

Skiing in Art History

Artists have long captured the magic of snow. During the 19th century, when winter sports like skiing, skating, and sledding became more popular in...

Louisa Mahoney 31 January 2024

Sport

Ice Skating Artwork – A Visual Journey on Ice

Ice skating is a beloved winter activity and I’ve been an avid participant (all year round) since I was a little girl. As such, I really enjoy...

Alexandra Kiely 31 January 2024

Maurizio Cattelan, KAPUTT, 2013, Foundation Beyeler Riehen, Basel, Switzerland. Source: Artsy. Long Read

From Specimen to Contemporary Taxidermy

There are many media through which artists can express their own vision, approach their aesthetic feeling, and capture the reality that vanishes in...

Caroline Galambosova 29 January 2024

Video

Watch the Hedgehogs from Medieval Bestiaries Come to Life!

I love animals from Medieval bestiaries. They are truly beautiful. So when I came across this video animating the hedgehog described in Latin...

Zuzanna Stańska, Nicole Ganbold 29 January 2024