Art History

March 23, 2022

How the Humble Pixel Became a Building Block To Groundbreaking Art

The pixel is an amazing thing. It is how you’re reading the text on this screen right now. It’s a unit of measurement. And for some creative folks, it’s a way to make art. Pixel art is a type of digital art that looks like it was intentionally created with the placement of pixels. Each block is a brushstroke; and, together, the bunches of pixels make a whole piece.

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March 13, 2022

Explore and Download Over 220,000 Traditional Japanese Woodblock Prints

Japan has a rich and colorful artistic history. In the late 17th century, woodblock printing became a popular medium of artistic expression. Known as ukiyo-e—meaning pictures of the floating world—these stunning prints are produced by carving an illustration into a block of wood, making an impression with ink, and painstakingly hand-painting color details. Ukiyo-e works depict famous scenes from literature and theater, as well as lovely landscapes and other subjects.

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March 6, 2022

Why Avant-Garde Artist Man Ray Was an Important Link Between Two Famous Art Movements

The early 20th century was an exciting time for avant-garde art. After Impressionism, more and more movements began to blossom, led by innovative artists with original ideas on aesthetics. Two of the most iconic movements to be born during the 1900s were Dada and Surrealism. The former considered itself “anti-art” that was founded in randomness, whereas the latter tried to convey unrealistic subject matter in a realistic style.

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March 1, 2022

Unraveling the Mystery of Avant-Garde Art

Bold, innovative, progressive, experimental—all words that describe art that pushes boundaries and creates change. These characteristics are also all associated with a term that is often used but sometimes misconceived—avant-garde. The French term, which translates to “advance guard” or “vanguard,” refers to something visionary and ahead of its time. Used frequently to discuss artistic contributions to society and culture, avant-garde is responsible for some of the most famous paintings and sculptures in history.

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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.