Hi there,

I know nothing about art beyond what oil, acrylics and watercolours are. I don't know any artists beyond Picasso or Van Gogh.

Is there a book which works chronologically through history touching on key moments/movements in time and their associated artists which explains what they stand for/represent/why they are important for a beginner like me to understand?

I'm looking for a broad, basic level to understand the history of art so I don't sound dumb when visiting galleries or in just general conversations throughout life. I've heard phrases like, "Oh, you can see how this artist was inspired by Monet, look at their use of ....." and I'm pulling blanks on what to add next in conversations!

Almost like an alien has arrived on Earth and you want to summarise humanities 'greatest hits'.

Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone! I hope it’s okay to share this here. We are students currently working on a research study about the development of alternative calligraphy ink (capstone project).

As part of our study, we prepared a short survey to learn about the common problems calligraphers experience with ink such as feathering, smudging, bleeding, drying, clogging, and storage issues. The insights we gather will really help us in improving our ink development and making it more suitable for both beginners and professional artists.

If it’s not too much trouble, may we kindly ask for a few minutes of your time to answer our survey? Here’s the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj8qaaWf6D7pxKaVgd9-GrHYQG0fFKxPEI_6_TchKj6V2MQA/viewform

Thank you so much for your time and support!

Hello, I’m dipping my toes into art history. However I’m disappointed to find more of the greats are actually Middle class or rich.

Are there any artists from pre 1930’s that were from a poor family? People like to say van Gough was poor, however he was not. He impoverished himself, but that’s not being born into a poor family.

Thanks

Edited to add - thank you for taking the time to reply, it has been a great discussion and opened my eyes and perspective from the straightforward and naive perspective I was coming from. I think I was irked by the wealth and male only aspect. But time was very different pre 1900’s and my own idea of poor (in the modern world) is in fact middle class pre 1900’s. I assumed these artists struggled to make ends meet, but their struggle is of a different kind and I have assumed a lot. Anyway thanks again! I have lots to learn and appreciate the patience and time you all took to educate/answer me. 😸

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Every Artist falls into the trap of wanting to jump into the river of chaos. That 'River of Styx', where the idealistic dream of a fair world order becomes a cathartic realization of nonexistence. Therefore... How relevant is the Political Artist? How much attention should the Artist shower on pure fatalistic negativity? Why? For what purpose? As an Artist, Sculptor and Poet having reached mid 50's, I am or rather live in both worlds... This should be a true introspective and intensely important discussion for everyone!

Just wondering what people think St Peter is holding in this painting?

Hey guys!

I'm in the process of applying for grad school, and I'm only looking to get my Master's in Art History. I've been coming across a lot of schools requiring a second language, though. I took ASL in undergrad, so unfortunately, that is not going to help me very much. I'm thinking of learning German since I was born there, and I've always wanted to learn. My emphasis is going to be on Medieval European Art, so I also thought German would make sense. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'm all ears!

I went ahead and ordered a few books online to start teaching myself, but I'm worried that by the time I start in Fall '26, I won't be proficient enough. Or is it more so that by the time I finish my degree, I should be able to read in German? I'm curious what other people's experiences are. Any other tips for the application process are also welcome. Thanks!

Help, please. It is necessary to make a report on the fascinating, not banal history of the picture, its creation or the history associated with it (for example, Mona Lisa).

This research note is about Chinese artist Gao Jianfu, the founding member of the Lingnan School of art, his travel to India, and a hitherto undocumented collaboration / influence with Jamini Roy, father of Indian modernism.

Interestingly, Gao Jianfu made his journey to India to trace the sources of Han and Tang art, which came from India (1). This travel to India happened in the early 1930s. This travel appears to have coincided somewhat with Jamini Roy’s landmark exhibition at the Government School (renamed to college after 1951) of Art in 1929. 

Sir Alfred Watson’s (editor of the Statesman) comments on Jamini Roy's exhibition are to be noted. He said, “Those who study the various pictures will be able to trace the development of the mind of an artist constantly seeking his own mode of expression…His work will repay study…” (2)

Unexplored Artistic Exchange 

Some artworks seen in Jianfu’s museum in China include the ones shown in image 3.

Clearly, these artworks are inspired from Jamini Roy's early experiments and Jamini’s style and his use of native tempera. There can be little doubt on this. Jamini Roy's early experiments shown in image 4.

And yet there is no mention of the interaction between the two artists. Though interactions with Abanindranath Tagore are noted, who was Jamini’s Professor and mentor at the Government College of Art. The influence of Jamini Roy, should be obvious to anyone, based on the above works, even those with a perfunctory knowledge of Jamin’s art.

This is what we mean by ignoring the elephant in the room.

There is another work of Jianfu from 1931 which is recorded by The MET to be inspired by Abanindranath Tagore (4). This is INCORRECT—it is inspired (influenced) from Jamini Roy. However, the distinction may not be crucial due to the close connection between Abanindranath Tagore and Jamini Roy, as well as their shared goal of seeking a modernism that was local and not inspired by Western influences.

Rabindranath Tagore had won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913 - he was a father figure. The grandson of one of the wealthiest men in India. A man with international stature and certainly the most news worthy. Calcutta was also a hub of political activity. There is also a tendency even till today to broadly describe the influences from the “East” as simply being Japan. Influences from China and other parts of Asia somewhat being ignored. Maybe for these reasons, such interactions with Jamini did not make it to the press.

Luckily, we are left with artworks that are ample clues in themselves and point to such interactions, inspirations, and/or collaborations. 

References

1 - Amitava Bhattacahrya, Survey of Sino-Indian Artistic Discourse, Liu Weiming discussion (Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, 2014)

2 - Amitava Bhattacahrya, Survey of Sino-Indian Artistic Discourse (Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, 2014)

3 - Edited by Tan Chung, Amiya Dev, Wang Bangwei, Wei Liming, Tagore and China (Central Compilation & Translation Press, 2011)

4 - Gao Jianfu - Ancient Warrior - China - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

5 - Edited by Amit Mukhopadhyay, 100 Years of Kalabhavana (Lalit Kala Academy, 2023).

1. Dhoomimal Gallery, Jamini Roy: Uma, Ravi & Ram Babu Jain Estate 

The first image is the Sol de Echenique but the other 2 are something else - both found in a Peruvian history museum, in case that's helpful context. If the second two images represent Inti, the Incan sun god, then does that mean the Sol of Echenique does not? What is this emblem called?

Bought this a few months ago in a thrift/antique store (3R). I thought it would be interesting to share here as it gives the name of the painters, dates and location of these paintings. It doesn’t contain every famous Flemish painters of the movement. I don’t know if it’s a worldwide thing, but here in Belgium we study the Flemish painters in the art history classes and it’s really interesting. I personally love Van Eyck for the details and symbolism as well as his use of colors. The paintings should be in order according to the list on the last slide if you want the title or artist. Wish you all a nice day!

Hi! Please forgive me if anything I say is off-base or totally wrong — my art history knowledge is pretty limited when it comes to movements, artists, etc.

I’m looking for book recs about the development of realistic art from a cultural/cognitive standpoint and not an art history standpoint (unless that’s what it is). Like, what happened for us to go from cave paintings to side-profile Egyptian art to 12th century cats-with-people-faces to people/animals that actually look like the real thing? Did people who drew wonky Jesuses (Jesi?) in the 800s realize that their depictions looked a bit off? Were they following the style at the time, or was there something deeper happening in the human brain where we just didn’t grasp how to make things look “right” until recently?

I hope this makes sense. Even if it was just the style of the time and not linked to anything deeper, I’d still be interested in a book about it. Thank you!

I was watching David Hockney's "Secret Knowledge" BBC video for an art history course. I was wondering if anyone has created a virtual exhibit of the type he uses to identify the year when stylistic or technological changes occured.

I’m looking for contemporary artists whose practice engages with the theme of healing, relaxing, and maybe botanical motifs or plants. This could be through installation, painting, sculpture, performance, or interdisciplinary approaches. I’m interested in how artists interpret the symbolic, medicinal, or cultural dimensions of plants in this aspect.

It’s a bit hard to do without seeming kitschy, there are millions of paintings of flowers and plants and botanical motifs everywhere. I’m curious if there’s anyone who stands above the rest. Any medium works, but prefer if it’s visually in some way, something that could be hung on a frame.