The Art World Needs to Stop Taking Itself So Seriously—But Never Will
The art world has always had a reputation for being, well, a bit serious. You can see it in the hushed tones of galleries, the smug language of critics, and the sky-high…
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Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.
Inspiration: “Mont Sainte-Victoire,” by Cézanne
Mont Sainte-Victoire rises quietly over the Provençal landscape, a limestone giant that became the muse of one of modern art’s most foundational painters. Paul Cézanne returned to this motif again and again…
Biography: Edward Cucuel
Edward Cucuel (1875–1954) was an American painter renowned for his impressionistic portrayals of leisurely outdoor scenes, vibrant landscapes, and elegant figures, often capturing the serene and idyllic moments of life. Born in…
Art in the Age of Terrorism: A Voice for Peace or War?
Art has always been a mirror reflecting the myriad facets of human existence, from the serene to the horrific. In the modern era, where terrorism has become a grim reality, art’s role…
Biography: Elisabeth Sonrel
Elisabeth Sonrel (1874-1953) was a French painter and illustrator, notable for her contributions to the Symbolist and Art Nouveau movements. Her work is characterized by its ethereal beauty, intricate detail, and often,…
Inspiration: “Annunciation,” by Arthur Hacker
Arthur Hacker was the son of Edward Hacker (1812–1905), a line engraver specializing in animal and sporting prints (who was also for many years the registrar of Births and Deaths for the…
The Sinister Hinterkaifeck Murders: Influence on Art and Literature
The Hinterkaifeck murders stand as one of the most chilling and perplexing cases in German history. Nearly a century later, the crime remains unsolved, baffling investigators, historians, and crime enthusiasts alike. The…
Bucks County Playhouse
The Bucks County Playhouse is a historic theater located in New Hope, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Delaware River. It is one of the oldest and most renowned summer theaters in…
Singapore: The History of its Art
To understand the trajectory of Singaporean art, it is necessary to begin not with the modern city-state, but with the littoral world it once inhabited—a nodal point within the maritime circuits of…
Wellington: The History of its Art
Wellington’s art history did not begin with paint on canvas or bronze on plinth. It began with the shaping of surfaces—wood, flax, stone, and skin—within a cultural world that did not separate…
Inspiration: “The Golden Rays,” by Herbert James Draper
Draper’s most productive period began in 1894. He focused mainly on mythological themes from ancient Greece. His painting The Lament for Icarus (1898) won the gold medal at the Exposition Universelle in…
Biography: Zinaida Yevgenyevna Serebriakova
Zinaida Yevgenyevna Serebriakova (1884-1967) was a distinguished Russian and later French painter, celebrated for her contribution to the early 20th-century art movements. She is renowned for her captivating portraits, self-portraits, and depictions…
