For students of the humanities…
Are you interested in the Harlem Renaissance? If so, this article from the National Museum of African American History & Culture is a solid place to start. link to A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance
Disease can have a drastic affect on societies and their art. In fact, art depicting plagues has been a constant throughout history. In this article from the BBC in 2020, the author discussses the art of plagues from the Black Death to the 21st Century. link to What plague art tells us about today
Some works of art are meant to remain unfinished. Such was the intent behind Keith Haring's Unfinished Painting (1989). The artists intended it's unfinished nature to be a statement on the AIDS epidemic, but now someone has used AI to finish it. Is this unethical and disrespectful of the artist? This article from Smithsonian Magazine… Continue reading Article: A.I. ‘Completes’ Keith Haring’s Intentionally Unfinished Painting
The place of technology within the art world can be controversial, and this article from Smithsonian addresses that. Specifically, this article deals with whether or not robots should be used to create sculpture, and whether or not great artists, such as Michelangelo, would have used this particular artistic tool. link to Can Robots Replace Michelangelo?
One of the unfotunate realities of contemporary art history is the terrible toll that Nazi Germany and World War II took on Jewish artists and art owners. So, many people were killed, and so many lives were irreperably changed. As part of their reign of terror, the Nazis stole art from many families (often killing them in… Continue reading Article: Court Rules Against Returning Nazi-Looted Pissarro Painting to Jewish Family
The Middle Ages may be long over, but that doesn't mean we aren't still discovering new things about that period. In this article from Smithsonian Magazine, the author explains new discoveries about both the Middle Ages and Ancien Rome that have been made during excavations at Exeter Cathedral in England. link to Archaeologists Discover 900-Year-Old English… Continue reading Article: Archaeologists Discover 900-Year-Old English Cathedral’s Hidden Medieval Crypt
Art theft is a serious problem, and many stolen treasures are lost forever (either sold to disreputable private collectors or destroyed). However, this article details an exception--a museum that was able to recover a stolen altarpiece. link to U.K. Museum Recovers 15th-Century Altar Panel Almost 50 Years After It Was Stolen
It can be very interesting when you find out that someone familar has more talents than you knew. This article from My Modern Met highlights one such case: actor Pierce Brosnan's painting hobby and the exhibition of his work. link to Actor Pierce Brosnan Debuts His First Solo Exhibition of His Deeply Personal Paintings
Can you embrace a new trend while respecting tradition? This article from My Modern Met showcases women in Japan who may have found a way to honor the old and the new. Some brides in Japan have begun to temporarily alter kimonos into beautiful wedding dresses. The best part is that the kimonos they use… Continue reading Article: Brides in Japan are Turning Their Long-Sleeve Kimonos Into Stunning Wedding Dresses
J.R.R. Tolkien was a brilliant author (and important contributer to the Oxford English Dictionary), but did you know he was also an artist? This article from the Smithsonian Magazine showcases some of the art he created for The Lord of the Rings. It's always interesting when an author is also an artist because it allows… Continue reading Article: Rarely Seen Paintings by J.R.R. Tolkien Portray a Lusch ‘Lord of the Rings’ Landscape
Drying or pressing flowers has long been a popular pastime. However, there is a new spin on this old tradition: hammering flowers. This artform works by choosing flowers, placing them on paper, and hitting them with a hammer.... The result is actually quite lovely. This YouTube Channel: HammerFlower shows many examples of the artform, with… Continue reading Video: HammerFlower
People have long studied the sky, and sometimes they are surprised and confused by what they say. The Medieval and Renaissance worlds are no exception to this. This article details several well documented incidents involving flying objects that have not been identified. link to The Mysterious 1561 Nuremberg Event ‘UFO Battle’
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
Humanities Scholars 