Much as the late nineteenth-century American myth of Manifest Destiny was used to justify westward expansion, many history paintings worked to shape and uphold stories of superiority and inferiority. This popular genre of painting, especially when applied to the depiction of historical events, sheds light on the manner in which art can be used to manipulate the truth.
Art News
“It isn’t necessary to make things large to make them monumental.” - Hans HoffmanWe all love small things. Small things are manageable... think mortgage. Small things are adorable… think our new puppy Millie. Small things fit places... think in a suitcase. Small things are often affordable… (well, sometimes not). Small things can be representative of larger things... think Ideas, Concepts, Movements... God. Small works of art fit all of these criteria… and I love them.
On March 30, 2025, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston threw a birthday bash. Cupcakes were served and local artist Nick Shea (best known for his pop-ups on the Boston Common) was available to draw your portrait on the spot.
When the czar Alexander III took the throne in 1881—accompanied by his wife, Maria Feodorovna, he unwittingly began a lavish Easter tradition within the Russian imperial court—the bedazzled egg.
The acclaimed signature event features insightful programming and new exhibitions at the SCAD Museum of Art, highlighting the global influence and legacy of creative expression.
It was 1939, just two years after Picasso painted his anti-war masterpiece, Guernica, in response to the fascist bombing of the titular city in northern Spain. France and Britain declared war on Germany in response to the latter’s invasion of Poland, and artists like Picasso were finding Paris a nerve-wracking place to live.
A graffiti art exhibition at Arts Arkade near Piccadilly Circus in London was shut down early after vandals swooped in overnight and smeared profanity on the walls.
Films about “great” male artists like Picasso and Van Gogh abound, but if you look hard and dig deep enough you’ll find films about great women artists, some well-worth watching, others, not so much.
The visual directness of Christina Ramberg’s paintings can be misleading. Take Shady Lacy (1971), which shows the back of a shapely figure dressed in a lacy matching set. Ramberg renders the figure boldly, almost schematically, except for the daisies delicately patterned across the lace.
Most kids have the opportunity to experiment with creative outlets, whether it be coloring, finger-paints, or macaroni art. Extraordinary talent is not expected, however, in some rare cases innate ability can emerge and transcend the everyday skill of adolescent creativity.
