Painting

Artist Stories

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: The Impressive Life of an Impressionist

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a leading member of Impressionism, was perhaps the most vibrant painter of color and light in the famous French movement.

Sam Malone 7 August 2024

Impressionists, Gustave Caillebotte, The Floor Planers, 1875 Impressionism

Gustave Caillebotte in 10 Paintings: A Different Impression

Think Impressionism, and Gustave Caillebotte is not the first name that springs to mind. Yet he helped organize the Impressionist exhibitions, he...

Catriona Miller 7 August 2024

Pop art

Andy Warhol: Religious Artist for a Secular Society

When I first saw a photo of Andy Warhol, he was wearing a wig and lipstick, and I thought he was an intriguing woman. However, he was, of course, one...

Marina Kochetkova 6 August 2024

Women Artists

Anne Vallayer-Coster: A Life of Still Life

The still life genre often seems less interesting than other art forms, so perhaps it is unsurprising that 18th-century French painter Anne...

Catriona Miller 5 August 2024

Masterpiece Stories

The Story of Vincent van Gogh’s First Self-Portrait

Vincent van Gogh’s career lasted only about 10 years. Yet, during that time, he painted some 36 self-portraits. Only Rembrandt painted more, with...

Ledys Chemin 5 August 2024

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Two Sisters (On the Terrace) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

This beautiful painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir is known under two titles. The first one – Two Sisters (in French: Les Deux Sœurs) was given to...

Zuzanna Stańska 5 August 2024

Painting

Sisterhood in Art: Portraying Sisters

It’s not surprising that many artists with sisters painted their portraits, especially early in their careers. They were probably easily available...

Europeana 5 August 2024

Leonardo da Vinci, Portrait of Mona Lisa del Giocondo Renaissance

Masterpiece Story: Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

The Mona Lisa is an icon and masterpiece featured in numerous movies, television shows, and music videos. It is famous for being Leonardo da...

Anna Ingram 4 August 2024

Impressionists, Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1906 Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Water Lilies by Claude Monet

Water Lilies is a masterpiece of Impressionism. It blends the artist’s objective world and subjective...

James W Singer 4 August 2024

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1656) was the most accomplished female painter of the Italian Baroque. She specialized in Biblical scenes of strong...

James W Singer 4 August 2024

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger

The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger is one of those paintings that we know so well we tend to forget to look closer. It’s like the Mona...

Joanna Kaszubowska 4 August 2024

Johannes Vermeer, Girl With a Pearl Earring, c. 1665, Mauritshuis, Hague, The Netherlands. Wikimedia Commons (public domain). Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

The Girl with a Pearl Earring is usually the first image that comes to mind when we think of Johannes Vermeer. It has inspired multiple references in...

Soledad Castillo Jara 4 August 2024