The painting EOW on Her Blue Eiderdown II presents us with seductive obscurity. Frank Auerbach was a true romantic and it shows here. This painting may seem blunt at first. But the piece demands a deeper look.
Folklore and history intersect at the story of Lady Godiva. A noblewoman of the 11th century, she’s still talked about today. That’s because she earned the “noble’ in her title.
War and Death ruled Paul Klee’s life when he painted Death and Fire. Torn asunder by World War II and a seering case of scleroderma – Klee suffered while painting this. His pain shows.
Pierre Bonnard painted four versions of Nude in the Bath. It wasn’t an obsession – just routine. In fact, the habit was not even his. Bonnard’s wife, Marthe de Méligny, loved bath time best.
Intriguing contradictions infuse Michael Malpass artwork. That may be because the man behind them was also complicated. He delved many themes. For instance, Screaming Medusa stands out among his thematic works.
The Annunciation marks a critical inflection point for Christianity. Keeping that in mind, painter Fra Angelico uses a golden laser beam to direct viewers’ eyes.
Paris Street; Rainy Day gives us a slice of life. It’s an unromantic, realistic painting during peak Impressionism. At the same time it captures 19th century Paris with a fresh allure.
Angela Davis made history with a powerful and poignant voice. Her work began in the sixties Civil Right movement and continues today. Scholar, activist, writer, and all around badass, she exemplifies strength.
Clarity and purpose shine through Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel. Its sharp cold bite make this more than a landscape. But on the most basic level it’s one of the best landscapes ever.
Cupid’s off to the side in Alma Tadema’s painting Unconscious Rivals. That’s because love plays a mere supporting role in this portrait. But pay no attention to the title, it’s not about rivalry either. This is a painting about friendship.
Marc Gibian’s Serpentine Sculptures bring whorling steel tendrils to the Hudson River Esplanade. These three structures are Twister, Offshoot, and Torque.
Winslow Homer’s Snap the Whip delights in joyful nostalgia. No matter the life we’ve led, at some point we all had a moment like this. These scampering bare feet sing to us of freedom.
Birth of Venus serves up instant recognition. We’re all familiar with Sandro Botticelli’s masterpiece. But have we looked at it? It’s a birth – messy baby business. But this portrait shows neither mess nor baby, only beauty.
Kid-friendly and communal, The Old Stone House breaks the House Museum mold. This historic structure keeps it real. There’s no pretension and nothing’s precious.
George Caleb Bingham’s painting, Fur Traders Descending the Missouri, dwells in romanticism. The work reminds us that romance in art takes many forms.
Marcel Duchamp’s “The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even” has two frames. They create a symbolic opposition that permeates the work.
Iconoclast Judy Chicago changed women’s history. Her extraordinary 1975 masterwork The Dinner Party still speaks volumes. It moves us with accomplishments of women in history
Antonio Pollaiuolo’s 15th century Italian masterpiece explores the myth of Apollo and Daphne. It’s the classic tale of unrequited love, with a laurel-scented twist.
The first time I visited Green-Wood Cemetery, I fell in love. It’s a Brooklyn Historical Marvel. Not only a place to honor death, there’s a lot to do and even more to learn.
Lorenzo Lotto’s lady in an ornate dress refers to the tale of Lucretia from Livy’s History of Rome. Both Lucretias in the painting are bold, though trapped by public opinion.
Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David proves that Masterpieces have baggage too. This well-known piece speaks to us from the French Revolution. Unfortunately, it doesn’t speak the truth.