Art History 101

Image title: Reading a sutra by moonlight Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper Date: ca. 1332 Source: The Met Collection   “ One's friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human. ” — George Santayana Brush with Aging: Artistic Explorations of Human Growth Across […]

Image title: Plaque with equestrian ọ́bà (king) and attendants Medium: Brass Date: ca. 1540–70 Source: The Met Collection   “ Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. ” — Euripides Art in Extremes: The Resilience of Creativity in Times of Crisis   Introduction: The Spark of […]

Image title: Mystery Flute (Tohono O'odham style) Medium: Cane, red and blue stain Date: late 19th century Source: The Met Collection   “ The world is but a canvas to the imagination. ” — Henry David Thoreau Canvas Conundrums: Unlocking Secrets in Iconic Artworks   Introduction: The Allure of Ambiguity […]

Image title: Neck of Poporo (Lime Container) Medium: Gold alloy Date: 300 BCE–700 CE Source: The Met Collection   “ In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. ” — Albert Einstein Enchanted Beads: How Microcosms Inspired Middle Eastern Jewelry Traditions   Introduction: Gems of the Past The intricate world […]

Image title: Grouped pigment jars Medium: Ceramic, pigment Date: 300–800 CE Source: The Met Collection   “ The universe is made of stories, not atoms. ” — Muriel Rukeyser Through the Lens of Time: Forgotten Indigenous Sculptures and Their Stories   Indigenous sculptures have long served as transmitters of cultural […]

Image title: Leather box Medium: Incised, tooled and stamped leather (cuir bouilli) Date: ca. 1490 Source: The Met Collection   “ It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped. ” — Tony Robbins The Alchemy of Paints: How Chemistry Shaped Renaissance Art   The Renaissance, a […]

Image title: “Enjoying the Evening Cool near Lord Nabeshima’s Warehouses” (Fūryū Nabeshima yūsuzumi) Medium: Pentaptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper; vertical ōban Date: ca. 1825 Source: The Met Collection   “ Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the […]

Image title: Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup) Medium: Terracotta Date: second quarter of the 5th century BCE Source: The Met Collection   “ Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. ” — Napoleon Hill Artistic […]

Image title: Salisbury Cathedral – The Nave, from the South Transept Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative Date: 1858 Source: The Met Collection   “ The wisdom of the wise, and the experience of ages, may be preserved by quotation. ” — Isaac D'Israeli Through Windows of Time: Stained […]

Image title: Caricature of Charles-Henri Plantade (?) Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash and black chalk Date: 19th century Source: The Met Collection   “ The meaning I picked, the one that changed my life: Overcome fear, behold wonder. ” — Richard Bach The Brush as Mightier: […]