Articles

Venus figurines; Natural History Museum Vienna

Jesslyn Low

Are They Really Venus?

Ancient female figurines from the Upper Paleolithic period have historically been given the name Venus—but this interpretation is outdated and unfounded.

Caravaggio, The Beheading of Saint John, 1608 via Sotheby's

Lily Frye

The Problematic Life of Caravaggio

Caravaggio, a Baroque master known for his artistic brilliance, led a turbulent life marked by violence, crime, and complex relationships.

Helter Skelter in the Courtroom via DeMilked

Madelyn Kenney

The Art of Judicial Sketches

Judicial sketch art connects the public to court proceedings by capturing raw emotions, offering deeper engagement than photos alone.

Edgar Degas, Blue Dancers, 1899, Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia. Detail

Emma Segrest

Degas' Ballerinas

Degas' ballerinas blend beauty with somber reality, depicting dancers' grace and the harsh lives many led as prostitutes for wealthy patrons.

Pink Race Riot, photograph by Gene Pittman via Sotheby's

Louise Irpino

Andy Warhol’s Most Transgressive Subjects

Andy Warhol's "Death and Disaster" series depicts graphic violence like car crashes and suicides, contrasting his vibrant celebrity works.

André Lhote (1885-1962), Les Rugbymen, circa 1917 (detail). © André Lhote, DACS 2023

Rosella Parra

Cubism

Cubism, a 20th-century art form, featured abstract and avant-garde styles as seen in the works of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and André Lhote.

Jasper Johns, Three Flags via the Whitney Museum of American Art

Emma Segrest

Patriotism in Art

Nationalism prioritizes a country's interests, while patriotism is diverse love and pride celebrated in art, reflecting America's unity.

Vincent Van Gogh, The Drinkers, 1953, Art Institute of Chicago via Wikidata

Taylor Hunt

Art and Alcohol

Alcohol and art are linked, with artists depicting its effects from magical allure to lonely addiction, often highlighting the tortured artist trope.

Keith Haring lithograph, Andy Mouse Plate, 1986 via Wiki Images

Emma Segrest

Screen Printing

Screen printing, critiqued for commercialization, became popular in the 20th century. Artists like Warhol used it for impactful, accessible art.

Martin U Waltz, The Reader

Madelyn Kenney

Urban Realism

Urban realism has shifted from city grandeur to personal experiences, resilience, and social commentary in art, literature, and photography.