Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.
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…
Art often appears to be an attractive investment because high-profile sales dominate headlines. When a painting by a major artist sells for millions, it creates the impression that art is a reliable…
Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951) was a preeminent American illustrator whose work defined the visual culture of the early 20th century. Born on March 23, 1874, in Montabaur, Germany, Leyendecker immigrated with his…
The original Agora was encroached upon and obstructed by a series of Roman buildings, beginning with the imperial family’s gift to the Athenians of a large odeion (concert hall). The Odeon of…
Valentin Aleksandrovich Serov (1865-1911) was a prominent Russian painter and one of the leading portrait artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is celebrated for his ability to capture…