Art History

April 21, 2019

Modern Technology Reveals a Hidden Painting Underneath Picasso’s ‘The Blue Room’

Modernist master Pablo Picasso once observed that “there is only one way to look at things until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes.” Though likely referencing the ability of avant-garde art movements to shift perspectives, this profound statement can also apply to other aspects of Picasso’s practice—even when those “different eyes” require X-ray vision.

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April 7, 2019

Pre-Raphaelites: How a Secret Society of Artists Blossomed into an Art Movement

For centuries, painters have looked to Renaissance artists as masters of the craft. Vincent van Gogh called Michelangelo’s figures “magnificent.” In his early work, Pablo Picasso emulated the style of Raphael. Surrealist Salvador Dalí described the Renaissance as the result of “divine genius.” With such high praise, it’s hard to believe that anyone could dislike the art of the Renaissance.

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March 27, 2019

Norman Rockwell’s “The Problem We All Live With,” a Groundbreaking Civil Rights Painting

In the middle of the 20th century, the Civil Rights Movement brought much-needed change to the United States of America. On the heels of the Harlem Renaissance, this movement emerged in order to end the discrimination against African Americans that had plagued the country since the end of the Civil War. Several now-famous figures spearheaded this cause, with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks among the most well-known.

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March 15, 2019

The Surprisingly Heart-Wrenching History of Robert Indiana’s ‘Love’ Sculptures

Few sculptures have captured hearts quite like Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE series. Characterized by large-scale letters stacked to spell out the word “LOVE,” these sculptures add a Pop Art touch to their surroundings, from bustling city corners to busy college campuses. Though aesthetically simple and seemingly straightforward, the LOVE series actually boasts unexpected undertones—and a surprisingly heart-wrenching history. What is LOVE? The LOVE series is a collection of sculptures by Robert Indiana, an American artist.

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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.