Art History

October 24, 2021

Learn About M. C. Escher, the Legendary Artist Who Created Mind-Bending Artwork

Dutch printmaker M. C. Escher seamlessly combined math and art. From illustrations of hands drawing hands to landscapes that transform into birds, he created dynamic illusory designs based on mathematical concepts such as tessellation and perspective. Over the course of his creative career, he produced an array of mind-bending lithographs and etchings that were wildly popular with the public.

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October 9, 2021

How Naturalism Art Moved Beyond Idealism To Capture Life’s True Details

Ever since the 17th century, the term “naturalism” has been used to describe art and literature that represents accurate details of a subject. By the 19th century, however, the same name was given to an official art movement. The Naturalism movement originated in France in the early 1800s in response to the Romanticism style. Painters who opposed the idealized depictions of subjects in Romanticism art sought to portray things exactly as they were.

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September 18, 2021

Take a Tour of Tessellations, the Mathematical Art of Repeating Patterns

Tessellations—repeating geometric patterns made up of shapes like hexagons, octagons, and more—can be found all around us, from patterned wallpaper to decorative mosaics. This mathematical art form dates back to 4000 BCE when the Sumerians used clay tiles to decorate their homes and temples. Since then, virtually every other civilization throughout history has adopted tessellations in both art and architecture.

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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.