For students of the humanities…
As the February 2023 Turkey earthquake reminded us, there are many irreplaceable cultural treasures in earthquake zones (in addition to the even more precious and irreplaceable humans) around the world. The Hagia Sophia is one such treasure, located in Western Turkey. This article from Nature discusses Hagia Sophia's durability in the face of natural disasters… Continue reading Article: Hagia Sophia: Shaken, not stirred
Even though it's not as famous as oil paint, tempera paint was a very popular medium in the Italian Renaissance. Traditionally made by combining egg with pigment, tempera is a bit more forgiving than watercolor, but much more delicate than oils. For this reason, it has been the medium of chose for many artistic masters… Continue reading Article: Italian Renaissance Art: Tempera Painting
Do you ever wonder how ancient Roman concrete buildings still look amazing, while our concrete sidewalks quickly crack? If so, then this article will help answer your questions. The Smithsonian talks about the innovations the Romans included that has allowed a number of their concrete structures to survive through to today. link to "Self Healing"… Continue reading Article: “Self Healing” Concrete May Have Preserved Ancient Roman Structures
This video from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston presents a fun take on the process the Greeks may have used in making red-figure pottery. If you're interested in pottery or ancient Greece, then you may find this both enjoyable and helpful. link to Figures in Red: Red-figure technique in ancient vase painting
This article from Hyperallergic discusses the art of Ha Chong-Hyun (one of the leading figures of South Korea’s Tansaekhwa Movement). If you've never heard of this movement, this is a great way to get started exploring it. Ha Chong-Hyun showcases art that uses unusual materials (like barbed wire) and paint that is pushed through fabric.… Continue reading Article: What Ha Chong-Hyun’s Painting Confirmed for Me
Be careful when you clean out your garage. That dusty old painting could be worth a lot of money. This article from azcentral.com discusses the possible fortune an Arizona man may have found in his garage. The painting will be going up for auction, so how much it is actually worth remains to be seen.… Continue reading Article: Painting Pulled from Arizona Garage may be a Jackson Pollack worth $10 million
Printmaking can be a bit of a complicated and confusing process to study. If you need more information on printmaking--in particular lithography and relief printing--then you may find this article helpful link to Lithography and Relief Printing
Time can be unkind to art, and this was particularly apparent during World War II. Many amazing (and culturally significant) works of art were destroyed in a conflict that leveled cities and destroyed countless lives. Additionally, beyond horrific human cost, World War II was the largest art heist the world has ever seen. Although it… Continue reading Article: The True Story of the Monuments Men
MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) is one of the world's premere museums dedicated to modern art. On there website, they have a great deal of information about all styles and kinds of modern art. You can go straight to their "Art and Artists" section or search for something particular, but if you are researching… Continue reading Website: MoMA
There are many paintings that have been lost to time. Sometimes the art world is lucky enough to get one of them back--or at least to find out what happened to it. This article discusses the case of a painting (this one by English avant-guard artist Helen Saunders) that was found underneath another painting during… Continue reading Article: Lost Vorticist Masterpiece Found Hidden Beneath Another Painting
Color is an essential part of art, and blue is a color that is both commonly used and important. In this article from Smithsonian Magazine, they discuss the discovery of the source of Cobalt Blue, as well as the creation of Prussian Blue. The development of these colors for artistic uses increased the variety of… Continue reading Article: Creating a Full Palette of Blues
If you are interested in Contemporary art and artists, then you should check out this site. While selling art is a big part of what they do, they also have a number of articles, blog posts, and other information about current art and the artists that create it. link to Arts, Artists, Artwork
Sculptress Edmonia Lewis created amazing works despite the racism and sexism prevalent in the art world of the 19th Century. This article from Smithsonian Magazine details the challenges she faced in getting her college degree, and her college is now trying to at least partially right a wrong that was made more than 150 years… Continue reading Article: After More Than 150 Years, Sculptor Edmonia Lewis Finally Gets Her Degree
The place of women in art expanded through the Early Modern Period. In this article from MOMA magazine, these changes are discussed through the lens of the art of Käthe Kollwitz. link to Käthe Kollwitz’s Self-Portrait en face
Painted portraits aren't as popular as they used to be, but they can still excite interest and comments. This article from Hyperallergic discusses the controversy over a new royal portrait. link to Critics Roast Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Official Portrait
Humanities Scholars 