Articles

Hans Memling, *Tommaso di Folco Portinari and Maria Portinari (Maria Maddalena Baroncelli)*, probably 1470, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Julian Ashford

The Significance of Hands in Art History & Pain...

From divine touch to tender emotion, Renaissance and Romantic artists used hands to express grace, intimacy, and the essence of the human soul.

Marie Laurencin, Le Poète Guillaume Apollinaire et ses amis, 1909, oil on canvas, © Photo by Josse/Leemage, © ADAGP, Paris via AWARE

Elise Marlowe

Remarkable Women Artists You May Have Never Hea...

Five remarkable women who shaped art history yet remain lesser-known, from Neoclassical pioneers to founders of modern abstraction.

John William Waterhouse, Ulysses and the Sirens, 1891 via NGV  National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased, 1891 © Public Domain

Elise Marlowe

Eight Must-Know Paintings by John William Water...

Explore the essential paintings by John William Waterhouse that define his romantic vision, mythic subjects, and timeless sense of beauty.

Giovanni Bellini, Madonna Adoring the Sleeping Child (detail), c.1459 via The MET

Hugo Merz

Art History Case Study: Giovanni Bellini’s Mado...

An educational case study on Giovanni Bellini’s Madonna Adoring the Sleeping Child, exploring composition, symbolism, and the art of Renaissance devotion.

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Adrian Mercer

František Kupka and the Spiritual Roots of Abst...

František Kupka pioneered abstract art with a vision shaped by Symbolism, music, science, and spirituality, creating a unique path in modern painting.

David Hockney, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, 1970–71 via Wikipedia/Public Domain

Edward Gray

Painted Bonds: Portrayals of Friendship in Art ...

Friendship has inspired painters for centuries. From portraits of companions to groups of bohemians, artists turned camaraderie into timeless art.

Giorgione, Sleeping Venus, c. 1508–1510 via Smarthistory

Lena Whitmore

Ranked: The Most Polarizing Nude Paintings in A...

Nude paintings have sparked outrage and admiration across centuries. These ranked works reveal shifting ideas about art, morality, and the body.

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.

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.

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.