A 19th century Kalighat painting from Calcutta, India

How Bengal’s Nineteenth-Century Art Defined Women

Women’s roles as icons ranged from being seductive and erotic to mythical and religious as they imparted social, political, and ethical values.
An illustration of Agaricus muscarius from Illustrations of British mycology by Anna Maria Hussey

The Fungi-Mad Ladies of Long Ago

In mycology’s early days, botanical drawing was, for some women, a calling. Their mushroom renderings were key to establishing this new field.
Gourna Mosque

Hassan Fathy and New Gourna

Fathy rejected European ideas of modernism, arguing that Egypt could draw on its own regional histories to develop a national aesthetic.
Pencil sketch of artist Elena Guro

Elena Guro and the Cubo-Futurism Group

Informed by the philosophies of the Futurists, Guro's painting and poetry represented an era of experimentation and innovation in Russian art.
Libyan Sibyles by Michelangeo

Delts Don’t Lie

Renaissance artists routinely used men as models for their depictions of female subjects, yet only the musculatures of Michelangelo tell that story.
A drawing of three chairs by Thomas Chippendale

The Shakespeare of English Furniture?

Not much is known about eighteenth-century furniture designer Thomas Chippendale, making his life and work perfect for mythologizing after his death.
An image from the Wasmuth Portfolio drawn by Marion Mahoney

Marion Mahony Griffin, Prairie School Architect

A founding member of the Prairie School, Mahony defined the movement’s now-familiar aesthetic for a global audience.
Kandalama Hotel, Sri Lanka

The Enduring Appeal of Architect Geoffrey Bawa

Bawa's global travels helped him to create buildings and landscapes that are inextricably linked to Sri Lankan sensibilities and craftsmanship.
Self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Why We Connect with Vincent van Gogh’s Paintings

Van Gogh was a troubled soul and master painter who relied on his emotions and color to create art that continues to attract millions of viewers.
View, in extreme close up, of a cat as seen with its teeth bared and a raised claw.

Metadata for Image Search and Discovery

Metadata helps you search for and find images of cats, for instance, whether or not you have a specific feline in mind.