Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, is most commonly recognized for his political and military achievements. But there’s another part of his legacy that often flies under the radar—his profound…
Adam Styka, born on April 7, 1890, in Kielce, Poland, was an artist whose vibrant and dynamic paintings captured the essence and spirit of Orientalist themes, desert landscapes, and the Bedouin way…
The Wendigo—a name that sends chills down the spine of anyone who has ever delved into the history of North American folklore. This malevolent spirit, deeply rooted in Algonquian tradition, is more…
Edvard Munch, born on December 12, 1863, in Loten, Norway, was a prominent figure in the Symbolist and Expressionist movements. His childhood, marked by tragedy and illness, greatly influenced his artistic vision.…
When we think of Salvador Dalí, images of melting clocks, dreamlike landscapes, and eccentric mustaches often come to mind. Yet behind the flamboyant persona and groundbreaking art was a woman who played…
Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009) was an American realist painter, closely associated with the regionalist style, who is perhaps best known for his detailed yet spare depictions of rural American life, particularly in and…
Waiting for lunch on a very hot June day. The house wine kept me company. In 1922, Greek refugees from Asia Minor also established in Anafiotika, altering the population that was up…
Stretching across eight countries and forming the backbone of central Europe, the Alps are more than a geographic feature—they are a civilization-shaping force. For thousands of years, these mountains have stood not…
The Monastery of the Mother of God at the Spring or simply Zoödochos Pege is an Eastern Orthodox sanctuary in Istanbul, Turkey. The present church, built in 1835, bears the same dedication…
Anafiotika (Greek: Αναφιώτικα pronounced is a scenic tiny neighborhood of Athens, part of the old historical neighborhood called Plaka. It lies in northerneast side of the Acropolis hill. The first houses were built in the era of Otto of…
The Basilica Cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey. The cistern, located 490 ft southwest of the Hagia Sophia on…
