WTF Art History

Masterpiece Stories

Painting of the Week: Claude Raguet Hirst, A Gentleman’s Table

A Gentleman’s Table by Claude Raguet Hirst is a mysterious painting that echoes the realism of Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, and Henry Ossawa...

James W Singer 6 June 2021

Erotica

I Modi: History of Erotic Art (NSFW)

Have you ever heard of I Modi (The Positions)? Also known as The Sixteen Pleasures or under the Latin title De omnibus Veneris Schematibus is a...

Zuzanna Stańska 26 May 2021

Art State of Mind

The Benefits of Visiting a Museum

During the protracted coronavirus lockdown, when all the art we see is digital, we can reflect on that which we took for granted before. There are so...

Nina Relf 21 May 2021

Love Story

Medieval Love Story: King Pedro and Inês de Castro

Every country has its legends and fairytales, and Portugal is no exception. One of the most well-known Portuguese tales is a love story about King...

Helena Pereira 15 May 2021

Erotica

Best Bums in Art History

When nothing goes according to plan and you’re feeling down, there are many pick-me-ups like meeting friends, eating chocolate, or going on a...

Magda Michalska 25 April 2021

Reading in Art: Six Paintings to See on World Book Day

Books have been an indispensable part of our daily lives since ancient times. From scrolls to kindles, the way we read may have evolved, however the...

Gokce Dyson 23 April 2021

Erotica

Does My Bum Look Big in This? The Female Body in Art

From Kylie to the Kardashians, bums seem to be big news. But that’s not modern selfie culture – the female body, especially buttocks have been a...

Candy Bedworth 22 April 2021

Contemporary Art

Body in the Art of David Hammons and Laura Aguilar

David Hammons: Body Prints, 1968-1979, at The Drawing Center (closes May 23) and Laura Aguilar: Show and Tell at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art...

Jennifer S. Musawwir 21 April 2021

Erotica

Body Positivity in Art: Paintings That Will Make You Feel Better About Your Body

If you happen to feel negative about your body size, your weight, or your shape from time to time (or at all times, like me), then have a look at...

Magda Michalska 20 April 2021

WTF Art History

Secrets of Ghost Photography in the 19th Century

Spirit photography, photographs that allegedly show ghosts, have always captured the eye. They are peculiar, bizarre, but above all else horrifying.

Sofia Rodriguez Cuevas 11 April 2021

Animals

Famous Lobsters in Art

Lobsters, large marine crustaceans, have been eaten by humans since prehistoric times. They became a delicacy by the Roman period. They were also...

Zuzanna Stańska 7 April 2021

Bizarre

A Hero and Mythical Creatures: Famous Spiders in Art

Spiders disturb the majority of the people. Even though they are much smaller, and thus much less powerful than us, we cannot help but fear their...

Belkıs Pesen 6 April 2021