Art History
March 16, 2018

How Flowers Blossomed Into One of Art History’s Most Popular Subjects

Impressionism During the Impressionist movement, French painters employed floral subject matter in several ways. Often, a beautifully arranged bouquet is featured as a subject of an indoor scene. Unlike still-life paintings, these pieces frequently include figures, too. In other paintings, blooms set the scene and serve as a backdrop. As many Impressionist artists opted to work en plein air (“outdoors”), flowers, plants, and other elements of nature often compose the background of their paintings.

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Travel
March 16, 2018

New Travel Guide Features Japan’s Most Beautiful Inns and Hot Springs

Coupling a minimalist aesthetic with a focus on achieving zen, Japan is renowned for its distinctive design style. On top of its beautiful landscaped gardens and tranquil tea houses, this exquisite approach can be found in its traditional spas, as outlined in Japanese Inns and Hot Springs, a new Japan travel guide by Tokyo-based author Rob Goss. Known as ryokan, these historic Japanese inns have attracted travelers for centuries.

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Photojournalism
March 14, 2018

Photos of Post-War Europe Captured by Italian Photographer Traveling by Motorcycle

As a pioneer of Italian photojournalism, Piergiorgio Branzi captured a pivotal moment in European history—following the end of World War II. Starting with a motorcycle voyage down the Italian coast less than a decade after WWII and continuing with reportages in Spain and Moscow, his work blended documentary and fine art photography to great effect. Now 89 years old, he finds himself part of a legacy of early Italian photography that inspired generations to come.

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Career
March 13, 2018

5 Essentials for Developing Your Creative Brand

So you’ve decided to turn your side hustle into a full-time profession. How can you be guaranteed success? Nothing is 100%, but one of the essentials of growing your business is understanding and developing your brand. Whether you are specializing in pet photography or create contemporary embroidery pieces, you need to understand who you are to get where you want to go. But what does “branding” really mean?

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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.