Latest Stories
Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.
Inspiration: “Hummingbird Perched on an Orchid Plant,” by Martin Johnson Heade
Martin Johnson Heade was born (in 1819) and raised in Lumberville, Pennsylvania, a small hamlet along the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Until the mid-1850s, his family ran what is now called the Lumberville Store…
Inspiration: “Spring Evening,” by Arnold Böcklin
Arnold Böcklin was born on October 16, 1827, in Basel, Switzerland. His early education at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art placed him within a traditional German academic setting, but it was his…
Inspiration: “The Apprentice Boy with Apple,” by William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was born on November 1, 1849, in Williamsburg (now Nineveh), Indiana, to the family of Sarah Swain and David H. Chase, a local businessman. Chase’s father moved the family to Indianapolis in…
Stone, Wine, and Vision: The Art History of Bordeaux
Bordeaux has long stood as a city where material grandeur and mercantile ambition converged. Built upon a bed of luminous white limestone and nestled on a crescent of the Garonne River, its…
Biography: Brassai
Gyula Halász, known by his pseudonym Brassai, emerged as a luminary in the world of photography, capturing the soul of Paris during the 20th century. Born on September 9, 1899, in Brassó,…
Biography: Firmin Baes
Firmin Baes, born on June 27, 1874, in Saint-Gilles, Belgium, emerged as a distinguished Belgian painter known for his mastery in capturing the nuances of everyday life. His journey unfolded against the…
Inspiration: “Mother Love,” by Paul Peel
Peel was born in London, Ontario, and received his art training from his father from a young age. Later he studied under William Lees Judson and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the…
Beyond the Trees: 12 Essential Tips to Add Magic to Forest Photography
Forest photography can be a tricky beast—what looks lush and vibrant in person often falls flat in a photo. It’s like the forest’s magic gets lost somewhere between the trees and the…
Biography: Saul Bass
Saul Bass, born on May 8, 1920, in the Bronx, New York, stands as a trailblazing figure in the world of graphic design and filmmaking. His prolific career, spanning several decades, left…
Swedish Rococo: Elegance in 18th-Century Scandinavia
Swedish Rococo emerged in the mid-18th century as a refined and distinctly Scandinavian interpretation of a style that had already swept through France and much of continental Europe. Known for its delicate…
Human Blood in Paintings: Exploring the Art and Ethics
In the world of art, innovation and shock value often go hand in hand. Over the centuries, artists have continually pushed boundaries, both in terms of technique and the materials they use.…
