Art History

February 2, 2026

Long-Lost Robert Burns Portrait Has Reemerged After 200 Years

When Dr. William Zachs attended an auction in London last March, he was in pursuit of something very specific: a long-lost painting of the world-renowned Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns. The work had been painted in 1802, some six years after Burns’ death, by Henry Raeburn, who also happened to be a revered Scottish artist. But only a few decades later, the canvas vanished.

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January 11, 2026

Expansive Surrealist Exhibition Lands in the U.S. To Celebrate the Art Movement’s Centenary

A little over a century ago, in 1924, André Breton published his Manifesto of Surrealism. Across some 20 pages, the French writer lamented that, as people grow older, they inevitably abandon their imaginations in favor of pragmatism. He did, however, present a solution to this conundrum: leaning into, rather than eschewing, a childlike sense of creativity. It turns out he was right, and thus the surrealist movement was born.

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November 14, 2025

400-Year-Old Painting on Silk Unveiled for First Time in Exhibition in Seoul

Folk paintings are one way in which a culture portrays its attitudes and beliefs. Often created by artists who lack formal training, these pieces are an important part of a society’s culture, and we can look to them as a guide to the visual language of the time in which they were produced. In Korean culture, the magpie and tiger are a pair common in traditional folk art paintings.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.