How Did the Dutch Become Dutch: Propaganda Prints in the Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age of the Dutch Republic was a flourishing period for culture and economy, yet it wasn’t characterized by peace. The Dutch Republic...
Andreea Iancu 21 May 2026
#Symbols
All You Should Know About Albrecht Dürer’s Melencolia I
A renowned print, famously titled “Melencolia I” and crafted by Albrecht Dürer, stands as one of the most captivating works in art history.
Zuzanna Stańska 21 May 2026
The Mystery of Dürer’s Magic Square
Many very strange symbols appear in Albrecht Dürer’s famous engraving Melencolia I. Among them is a magic constant 34, a well-known and enigmatic...
Zuzanna Stańska 21 May 2026
The Flora of Folklore: Hidden Flower Symbolism in Art’s Greatest Paintings
Every Old Master canvas speaks in two registers at once: one for the eye, one for those who know how to read the flowers. Artists used flower...
Errika Gerakiti 18 May 2026
Frida Kahlo: The Suffering Behind Her Paintings
The image of Frida Kahlo has become very popular in our society: we can find her face or artworks on colorful and bright t-shirts, earrings, cups,...
Arianna Richetti 18 May 2026
Masterpiece Story: Mithras Slaying the Bull
Mithras Slaying the Bull is a compilation of the entire religious and symbolic images of Mithraism. It reflects promised immortality and personal...
James W Singer 17 May 2026
A Tulip Means Love—Decoding the Hidden Messages of Flowers
Nowadays we have social media, emails, and telephone calls. But a century ago, it was not quite as easy to get a message or love note across to...
Rachel Witte 15 May 2026
Blue Faience Hippopotamuses: The Cutest Animals of Ancient Egypt
Blue faience hippopotamus was a popular statuette in ancient Egyptian art. It was considered to have positive traits associated with fertility and...
Zuzanna Stańska 13 May 2026
Symbolism Special: Jacek Malczewski’s Dates with Death
Jacek Malczewski is one of the most important Polish symbolist painters. Malczewski is associated with the Young Poland movement (Młoda Polska), a...
Magda Michalska 8 May 2026
Circus and Jazz of Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a renowned French artist celebrated for his bold use of color. One of his lesser-known masterpieces, The Circus, is a...
Isla Phillips-Ewen 30 April 2026
May the 4th Be with You—Archetypes in Star Wars and Art
Today is Star Wars Day. The first documented use of the phrase “May the 4th be with you” came from Margaret Thatcher’s political party, to...
Ledys Chemin 29 April 2026
Guardians of the Night Sky: Owls in Art
Owls have captured the attention of artists since art began. Their knowing eyes, nocturnal wonderings, and global ubiquity have made them symbols of...
Theodore Carter 23 April 2026
