Parque del Buen Retiro or El Retiro, Madrid
In 1505, at the time of Isabella I (r. 1474–1504) the Jeronimos monastery was moved from an unsuitable location elsewhere to the present site of San Jeronimo el Real Church, and a new monastery built…
Latest Stories
Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.
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Symbolism: The Art Movement That Redefined Imagination
The Symbolism movement emerged in the late 19th century, flourishing as a reaction to the rigidity of realism and naturalism. It was deeply rooted in the Romantic era’s yearning for imagination, mystery,…
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Saitama: The History of its Art
The oldest artworks in Saitama are silent, brittle, and buried—yet they speak across millennia with astonishing force. Long before calligraphy, castles, or sculpture parks, the region’s artists molded clay into strange, compelling…
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Biography: Marie Bracquemond
Marie Bracquemond, born on December 1, 1840, in Argenton-en-Landunvez, Brittany, France, was a talented French Impressionist painter whose artistic contributions were significant but often overshadowed by the prevailing gender norms of the…
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The Art Bog’s Hall of Fame: Class of 2008
Welcome back to the most anticipated event in our calendar, the grand unveiling of this year’s entrants into The Art Bog Hall of Fame! Every year since 2003, we’ve embarked on the…
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Architectural Conservation: Preservation or Stagnation?
Is preserving our architectural heritage a noble cause, or are we clinging to the past at the expense of progress? This question often ignites passionate debates among architects, historians, and urban developers.…
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Inspiration: “Elizabeth and Carmen Pinschof,” by Tom Roberts
ELIZABETH AND CARMEN PINSCHOFTom Roberts (8 March 1856 – 14 September 1931)Australian/Englishc. 1900 Tom Roberts was born in Dorchester, Dorset, England, although some mystery surrounds his actual birthdate: his birth certificate says…
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Iberian Christmas in Toledo, Spain
As Christmas time unfolds in Toledo, Spain, the city takes on an enchanting atmosphere, blending its rich medieval history with the joy and warmth of the holiday season. The narrow, cobblestone streets…
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Inspiration: “Harvesters,” by Anna Ancher
Harvesters shows a man and two women on their way to start the harvest in the fields around Skagen. It is unusual in the canon of the Skagen Painters whose works mainly focused…
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Biography: Alberto Vargas
Alberto Vargas, a renowned Peruvian-American pin-up artist, was born on February 9, 1896, in Arequipa, Peru. His life story is a fascinating journey through the realms of art, glamour, and cultural evolution.…
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Casa del Sol Sign, Coyoacán
Coyoacán is a municipality (alcaldía) of Mexico City and the former village which is now the borough’s “historic center.” The name comes from Nahuatl. It most likely means “place of coyotes,” when the Aztecs named a pre-Hispanic village on the…
