Articles

Henri Matisse, Bathers by a River, 1917 © 2024 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York via The Art Institute of Chicago

Isabelle Fenwick

Beyond the Face: How Artists Found Meaning in t...

Artists from Velázquez to Magritte explored the mystery of turned figures. Backs in art invite curiosity, intimacy, and deeper interpretation.

Diego Rivera, Hands of Doctor Moore, 1940 via Artchive

Julian Ashford

Hands in Art History: Symbols of Power, Faith, ...

Across centuries, artists used hands to show prayer, power, and love. Their gestures form a timeless language that speaks without words.

Edouard Manet, Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume, 1863 via WikiArt/Public Domain

Sable Monroe

Languid Elegance: Reclining Women in Romantic P...

Paintings of women reclining on couches capture the poetry of leisure. Artists across centuries transformed languid poses into visions of beauty.

Henry Moore in his Hammersmith studio, c. 1925–26. © The Henry Moore Foundation. All rights reserved. Via Henry Moore Foundation Archive/Tate

Sebastian Moore

Henry Moore: Master of Modern Sculpture’s Monum...

Henry Moore redefined sculpture in the twentieth century through monumental forms that merged the human figure, nature, and universal themes of endurance.

Andrea Mantegna, Camera degli Sposi (ceiling fresco), 1465–1474 via Wikipedia

Hugo Merz

Painted Illusions: Trompe-l’oeil Through Art Hi...

Artists have long delighted in trompe-l’oeil, a style that tricks the eye with uncanny realism. From walls to modern canvases, illusion shaped art history.

Wassily Kandinsky, Yellow-Red-Blue, 1925 via WikiArt/Public Domain

Clara V. Leone

The Science of Beauty: Neuroaesthetics in Art a...

Neuroaesthetics examines how the brain perceives beauty, providing insight into art, design, and architecture while influencing creativity.

Edgar Degas, Beach Scene, c. 1876

Rebecca Levenson

The Dreamiest Landscape Paintings in Art Histor...

Explore our selection of the dreamiest landscapes ever painted, where light, color, and imagination turn nature into visions of beauty and wonder.

Jackson Pollock, Number 1A, 1948 © 2025 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York via MoMA

Edward Gray

The Hidden Stories Behind Backgrounds in Paintings

Backgrounds in painting hold secrets, symbols, and atmosphere. They guide the viewer’s eye and transform the meaning of every work of art.

Paul Gauguin, Self-Portrait, 1889 via Google Arts and Culture/National Gallery of Art

Adrian Mercer

Why Artists Return to Themselves Through Self-P...

Self-portraits reveal artistry and identity across time. From Dürer to Kahlo, these works chart ambition, vulnerability, and the search for legacy.

Jacques-Louis David, The Death of Socrates, 1787 via The MET

Miles Avery

The Art of Drapery: Fabric as Expression in Pai...

Drapery carries light, form, and meaning in painting. From ancient sculpture to modern installations, fabric has shaped the history of visual art.