Is this remarkable drawing a self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), the Great Italian artist, and the epitome of a polymath, or not? This question has been asked by art historians since the 19th century, and there hasn’t been a conclusive answer to it yet. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most …
Paintings
One of the most enigmatic Baroque paintings ever produced has been discussed in detail for as long as it exists. Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) was a French artist and one of the most renowned Baroque artists of his time, although he spent most of his career working in Rome. Most of his works are either religious …
The life of Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) was plagued by chronic alcoholism, but this didn’t stop him from becoming one of the greatest American artists in history. He achieved fame because he developed a radical new painting method now referred to as the “drip technique.” It’s also known as action painting and revolved around splashing paint …
If there’s one painting that defines the art movement that emerged in the 16th century following the Renaissance, then this is the one. Mannerist artists exaggerated the harmonious ideals of the Renaissance artists, often resulting in asymmetrical compositions or figures. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Madonna with …
One of the greatest British portrait painters in history preferred to paint landscapes. He despised the upper-class people who sat before him but needed to do his job to support his family. We can only imagine that he didn’t have the same feeling when painting this fascinating artwork of the Rococo era. It depicts a …
Although this world-famous Spanish artist hardly needs an introduction, the career of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was so diverse that it still might hold some secrets. Picasso traveled to Paris for the first time in 1900 and this was a period in which the aspiring artist experienced poverty. His Blue Period emerged from this between 1901 …
It’s always nice to see paintings that depict common scenes of how people lived many centuries ago. You’ll hardly find a better example of this than some of the works of this renowned artist from the Low Countries. Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569) was an innovative artist of the Renaissance and the leading painter of …
What appears to be a relaxing scene of Parisians having a good time on the banks of the River Seine might not be exactly what it looks like. Georges Seurat (1859-1891) was a revolutionary Post-Impressionist artist who developed the pointillist technique of painting. This remarkable work of art is one of the best examples of …
The Impressionist artists of the late 19th century caused a revolution in the world of art. Instead of depicting things as they were like the Realist artists, they favored painting based on their impression of things. Impressionist paintings often appear to be hazy and feature a sense of motion that makes the work come alive. …
If you have to name one American painting, then this iconic work by one of the most renowned American artists in history probably comes up as one of the first. This realistic painting has been featured in countless forms of media which certainly helped to instill this image into the minds of the people. Let’s …