The hottest Art history Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Art & Illustration Topics

How the Little Guy Moved

Animation Obsessive • 19105 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Early game creators borrowed traditional animation tricks like rotoscoping to make tiny, low-resolution characters move in believable, fluid ways even on very limited hardware.
  2. Creators used highly inventive, hands-on workflows — filming live motion, tracing frames, Xeroxing silhouettes and digitizing them — to convert real movement into economical pixel animation.
  3. Good animation decisions, not just better hardware, made the work memorable and durable, so lively motion stayed effective and influential as games moved to newer platforms.

How I Pieced Together a Personal Style in Photography

In the Flash • 2238 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Developing a personal style in photography can take time and experimentation. It's normal to feel anxious about finding your unique voice.
  2. Originality in art comes from mixing ideas from different sources, not from trying to be completely unique. It's about remixing influences to create something new.
  3. Learning from other artists and styles can help shape your own work. It's okay to borrow elements that resonate with you to build your signature style.

Top Links 1029 Americans leaving. Keynes and art. Sam Nitro & Kautsky's neo-imperialism.

Chartbook • 572 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
💾 History Art history
  1. A report highlights growing numbers of Americans leaving, looking at who is moving and why it matters for politics and society.
  2. An essay connects Keynes to the world of art, showing how his collecting and ideas shaped cultural as well as economic debates.
  3. An exploration of Sam Ntiro's paintings is paired with a discussion of neo-imperialism, using art to trace colonial legacies and contemporary power dynamics.

New Emoji: Distorted Face 🫪

Did Someone Say Emoji? • 293 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Distortion has long been an artistic tool for conveying deeper truths and emotions—artists from Da Vinci and Bacon to animators and SOPHIE warp faces to express what normal features can’t.
  2. Online distortion like fisheye selfies, .5 selfies, and deliberate filters acts as an emotional shorthand and a way to reclaim control over your image, signaling authenticity or resistance to airbrushed perfection.
  3. New emojis such as Distorted Face, Melting Face, and Dotted Line Face make internal tension and complex psychological states visible, giving us a shared visual language for feelings ordinary expressions can’t capture.
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The Enigmas of Gerhard Richter

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 449 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Gerhard Richter is often seen as possibly the greatest living painter because of his extraordinary versatility, moving from photorealistic blurred images to grey monochromes across a seven-decade career.
  2. Even though Richter claims his paintings 'mean nothing,' they repeatedly engage personal and historical trauma—World War II, the bombing of Dresden, and intimate family tragedies—and often explore the experience of looking at photographs of loved ones and enemies.
  3. Key techniques and series carry clear critical readings: the 1965 photographic blur was a major innovation, the 1980s–90s smear paintings are read as reflecting art‑world financial cynicism, and some late works like the Birkenau paintings have been judged aesthetic and moral failures.

The Next in Line

Animation Obsessive • 1435 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. When the USSR collapsed, state studios and funding for animation fell apart, causing a big loss of skilled artists and a real fear that the craft’s generational knowledge would disappear.
  2. Veteran animators set up School‑Studio Shar and other teaching efforts to pass on techniques to younger artists, and that training helped Russian animation slowly rebuild over decades.
  3. Anton Dyakov, a Shar graduate, earned an Oscar nomination for BoxBallet, proving the mentorship pipeline can produce world‑class work, but his rise also highlights how fragile the succession and revival remain.

An Ocean of Pain and Death

Looking Through the Past • 178 implied HN points • 06 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Ernst Friedrich's book 'War Against War!' aimed to show the harsh realities of war, pushing people to rethink their views on conflict. He believed that by confronting the true impacts of war, society could work towards lasting peace.
  2. Artists throughout history, like Goya and Picasso, have used their work to express the horrors of war, presenting it not as glorious but as tragic. Their art serves as a reminder of the suffering that war brings to individuals and communities.
  3. The anti-war art movement highlights the need to see the brutal consequences of conflict, encouraging people to think critically about war and its effects on humanity. Recognizing these realities can help prevent future wars.

Book Review: From Bauhaus To Our House

Astral Codex Ten • 24089 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Modern architecture started as a reaction against traditional styles and aimed to be functional and non-bourgeois, but many people ended up disliking it.
  2. Even though architects thought their designs were better for society, many real workers preferred the old styles and often complained about the new ones.
  3. The focus on modern architecture continued because top schools and institutions pushed it as the only acceptable style, ignoring the opinions of the general public.

Venus Explains It All

The Unpublishable • 5267 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Art history
  1. The post discusses understanding modern beauty standards through art history.
  2. The author gave a speech with a PowerPoint presentation at a launch event for a new wellness section.
  3. The talk at the event was about beauty standards and was well-received.

Does your politics affect your art?

Science of Art • 59 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Artists can hold different political views and still create art that appeals to a wide audience. For example, Norman Rockwell had liberal beliefs but often illustrated conservative themes.
  2. The way an artist views uncertainty in the world can influence their art style. People comfortable with ambiguity may prefer abstract art, while those seeking certainty might lean towards realistic works.
  3. Art reflects both society and the inner feelings of the artist. Successful art aligns with the era's spirit and resonates with the public, regardless of the artist's political leanings.

The Power of Second Acts in an Artist’s Life

Science of Art • 99 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Second acts in an artist's life are opportunities for reinvention and growth. They often come after personal changes and challenge artists to evolve their work.
  2. Many artists find renewed success or new directions after facing hardships. Experiences like illness or life transitions can inspire powerful and transformative art.
  3. It's never too late for artists to achieve recognition. Some artists create their best work later in life, showing that creativity can flourish at any age.

Meet Wound Man

Culture Study • 1577 implied HN points • 20 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Art history
  1. The Wound Man is an intriguing figure from medieval medical illustrations, representing complex ideas about medicine and healing. He might look creepy, but there's a lot of depth behind his image that can teach us about history and human experience.
  2. Wound laws in the past provided detailed compensation systems for injuries, considering not just the damage done but also the victim’s condition beforehand. This shows how seriously injuries were dealt with and how they impacted people's lives in medieval society.
  3. The journey of the Wound Man through various printed works highlights the evolution of printing technology and its impact on sharing medical knowledge. It also shows how art and science can come together in surprising ways to inform people.

The Snoopy fan account political war

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 6061 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Art history
  1. A Snoopy fan account recently endorsed Donald Trump, which surprised many due to Snoopy's typically positive and innocent image. This sparked a lot of backlash from fans who felt it contradicted the character's values.
  2. Snoopy has become very popular among younger generations, leading to a surge in merchandise and online fandom. People love Snoopy for his creativity and joyful personality, making him a relatable figure.
  3. Many fan accounts are shifting to political messaging, showing how beloved characters can be used to spread different viewpoints. However, this can backfire if the message doesn’t match the audience's values, as seen with the backlash against the pro-Trump post.

Will people enjoy AI art?

The Common Reader • 1382 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. AI art could become popular if it keeps getting better. People have enjoyed machine-made art before, so there's a chance they’ll like it now.
  2. Art has changed with technology many times before. Just like past mechanical art, AI art might also find a place in people's hearts.
  3. People might value AI art for different reasons, like connecting with emotions or memories. If it becomes unique to each person, it can still feel special.

Seeing is forgetting the name of the thing one sees

Austin Kleon • 2078 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Robert Irwin was an artist who focused on creating experiences rather than traditional paintings. He wanted people to think about how they perceive the world.
  2. Lawrence Weschler wrote a book about Irwin called 'Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees'. It dives into Irwin's ideas and art philosophy.
  3. David Hockney and Robert Irwin had different views on art, but their conversation through Weschler's writing shows how meaningful discussions can happen even without direct contact.

The art of forgery

Austin Kleon • 1438 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Forging art means giving credit to someone else for work you create, while plagiarism is taking credit for someone else's work. It's about the effort you put into creating something.
  2. Art forgery requires a lot of skill, and sometimes forgers become as famous as the original artists. For example, Han van Meegeren became well-known for his skill in copying famous painters.
  3. Forgers often have their own reasons for their work, sometimes even out of frustration with the art world. This can lead them to excel in their craft, creating impressive forgeries that fetch high prices.

Phantom Muse

Seven Senses • 1258 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Creative inspiration often feels like it's not from the artist, but rather comes through them. Many artists think of themselves as channels for a mysterious creative energy.
  2. Some artists, like Barbara Kingsolver and Hilma Af Klint, have connected with the spirits of past creators to gather inspiration. These experiences highlight the idea that creativity can link us to something greater.
  3. Our five senses, plus intuition, can help us connect with creative muses and the memories of loved ones. We can use rituals, art, and even food to honor these connections and explore our creativity.

Advice to Artists Everywhere

DrawTogether with WendyMac • 1238 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Artists throughout history have shared valuable advice for others in the field.
  2. Jerry Saltz, Sol LeWitt, Susan O'Malley, and Leah Rosenberg are some artists who have offered insightful guidance.
  3. Project collaborations like 'Getting Better Everyday' exemplify how artists can share wisdom through their work.

Blood on the Seine

Cosmographia • 838 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
💾 History Art history
  1. Paris evolved from a Gaulish settlement to a significant city under various rulers like Clovis I and Charlemagne.
  2. Charlemagne, known as the Father of Europe, made Aachen his permanent capital, shifting attention from Paris.
  3. After Charlemagne's reign, Paris experienced a decline in political significance and development, facing new threats like Viking invasions.

What Didn't Get In

Animation Obsessive • 1614 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Katsuhiro Otomo is well known for his detailed storyboards, and many of his early works are now available to view online for the first time.
  2. Mary Blair's seldom-seen artwork related to Disney films has been shared, showcasing her unique style and contribution.
  3. An interview with animator Tony White reveals more insights and stories from his work in animation, adding depth to understanding his projects.

The Course of Empire

Cosmographia • 658 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. The Colosseum's grandeur cannot truly be appreciated until seen in person, highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of ancient structures
  2. Historical patterns suggest that great civilizations may eventually decline due to lowered moral standards, cynicism, and frivolity, prompting reflection on the lessons of the past for modern societies
  3. The Course of Empire art series by Thomas Cole illustrates the rise and fall of civilizations, offering a visual representation of the cyclical nature of human history

Top Links 751 Thinking of history from my space. The real wage growth gap & measuring infant mortality right.

Chartbook • 443 implied HN points • 27 May 25
💾 History Art history
  1. There's a focus on understanding history from different perspectives, which can deepen our knowledge of the past. It's important to think critically about how history is written and shared.
  2. Measuring real wage growth is a complex issue, highlighting inequalities that persist in today's economy. Knowing where wages stand can affect how we view economic progress.
  3. Infant mortality rates serve as a significant indicator of a society's health and well-being. Accurate data and measurement can help us address key social issues effectively.

Review: Joy Williams on Leonora Carrington

Book Post • 235 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Surrealism has been perceived as boring and decadent by some artists.
  2. Leonora Carrington dismissed surrealism as a "bullshit" role for women and created unique, marvelous art.
  3. Leonora Carrington's work, including her novel "The Hearing Trumpet," showcases surrealism, humor, terror, and rebirth.

The book of discoveries

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 24 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
💾 History Art history
  1. By the late 1500s Europeans began to see their own time as an age of discovery and invention instead of a pale imitation of classical greatness. This new outlook planted the idea of historical progress.
  2. Artists and printmakers celebrated everyday technologies and workshops to show how specialization, division of labor, and the combination of inventions produced wealth and improved life. Those images emphasize practical, sociable work and what later economists call Smithian growth.
  3. Later reinterpretations flip that optimism into skepticism, highlighting impersonal infrastructure, invisible labor, and environmental and social costs. Modern views often question unqualified praise of science and technological progress.

Two Ways of Thinking About Modernism

Castalia • 379 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Art has changed a lot over the last hundred years, and many feel that modern art doesn’t resonate as strongly with people today. Unlike the past, when artists were central to cultural life, modern artists often seem disconnected from the public.
  2. The shift from painting’s focus on realistic representation to abstraction was influenced by technology, leaving behind traditional techniques. While early modernists responded creatively to these changes, later artists seem to have lost that boldness.
  3. The art world is heavily influenced by money and market trends. Many notable artworks were pushed to success by a few wealthy individuals rather than by a collective appreciation of good ideas, which can cloud our understanding of what makes art valuable.

Photo of the Day -- weekend

Photo of the Day • 176 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. The comparison of historical images to modern ones shows that some aspects of life remain constant over time.
  2. Through visual examples, the post highlights the similarities and differences in various historical events and figures.
  3. The post uses photography to reflect on the past and present, illustrating the continuation of certain themes through time.

Saul Steinberg at play

Austin Kleon • 1338 implied HN points • 12 Jul 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Saul Steinberg was a unique artist who described himself as a 'writer who draws'. He inspired others to see art in new ways.
  2. His famous work, 'View of the World from 9th Avenue', is well-known and a great introduction to his style and ideas.
  3. Steinberg had a long history with 'The New Yorker' magazine, which showcases his diverse range of artistic styles and contributions.

The Terrible Loneliness of Genius

Wrong Side of History • 427 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Vincent van Gogh struggled with loneliness and mental health issues throughout his life. His passion for art often clashed with his personal struggles, causing him to feel isolated.
  2. Despite facing rejection and lack of recognition during his lifetime, Van Gogh created around 200 artworks while living in Arles. This period was productive but also led to his mental breakdown.
  3. Today, Van Gogh is celebrated as a brilliant artist with a significant legacy. His brother Theo's widow worked hard to promote Van Gogh's art after his death, helping to secure his place in art history.

Top Links 632 Breakthrough analysis of the "Origins and Content of New Work in the USA, 1940–2018". The art of the photocopier & oil as the lubricant.

Chartbook • 386 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. The analysis focuses on the new job categories that have appeared in the USA from 1940 to 2018. It's interesting to see how work has evolved over time.
  2. It mentions the role of tools like photocopiers in changing the way art and work are created. This shows how technology can enhance creativity.
  3. The study sheds light on the connection between art and industry, suggesting that they can work together in innovative ways. This idea encourages thinking outside the box.

Frog: Who drew it best?

Soaring Twenties • 177 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Art can express thoughts without words, like with frog illustrations in this case. Sometimes, we appreciate visuals more than the text itself.
  2. Different artists have unique styles and depictions of the same subject, which can spark debate about which is best. Everyone has their favorite!
  3. Art can be a fun and engaging way to connect with others, and sharing preferences can create meaningful conversations. Explore what you love!

The Figurative-to-Abstract Art Pipeline

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 1289 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Pioneers of abstract art often began with painting representational pictures.
  2. The shift from figurative art to abstract art is a gradual progression seen in artists like Kandinsky, Mondrian, Malevich, Pollock, and Rothko.
  3. Early abstract art skeptics may not fully appreciate the value of abstract art, but understanding the journey of artists can provide insight into their artistic development.

The Thursday Selects Edition

Why is this interesting? • 482 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Jason Charles is a winemaker and photographer, sharing his artistic work with others. It's great to see creative talents represented in different fields.
  2. The Thursday Selects Edition highlights the importance of visually breaking up text to keep readers engaged. Using images can make a post more interesting.
  3. Sharing guest contributions can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to a platform. It's a nice way to involve a community and showcase diverse talents.

The Guild of St. Luke

Cybernetic Forests • 99 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Artists historically learned how to create art through hands-on practice and not just by observing art - a concept often misunderstood.
  2. The concept of learning from masters in art, as compared to how AI learns from training data, reveals interesting differences in approach and outcomes.
  3. The discussion around AI, art, and copyright brings up important points about data rights, labor values, and the need to support human artists in the digital age.

Art is Navigating Latent Spaces

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 31 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Art may help us explore parts of our own minds that we don’t usually think about. It can highlight unusual connections that we weren't aware of before.
  2. When we ask questions to AI models, we guide them to specific areas of their knowledge. This is similar to how we might expect art to take us to new and surprising ideas.
  3. People often feel disappointed by art when it doesn't challenge them. If art points to familiar and predictable ideas, it tends to feel less satisfying.

The genius of Caravaggio

Wrong Side of History • 441 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Caravaggio was a very influential artist known for his unique style using light and dark contrasts. This technique is called 'chiaroscuro' and inspired many other artists and filmmakers.
  2. He had a tumultuous life, filled with fights and adventures, which sometimes got him into serious trouble, like killing a man in a duel. Despite his bold personality, he faced many struggles, especially in his early life.
  3. Caravaggio's paintings often portrayed religious themes but in a way that made them relatable to ordinary people. His work was not just beautiful; it also had a deep connection to the social and political issues of his time.

Notes on 'Zone of Interest', by Adam Lehrer

Safety Propaganda • 137 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Jonathan Glazer is known for his unique and groundbreaking films, setting high standards for himself.
  2. The film 'The Zone of Interest' portrays a haunting vanitas concept by juxtaposing idyllic visuals with disturbing sounds of a Holocaust setting.
  3. The use of sound in the film creates a jarring contradiction, making it both boring and disturbing at the same time.

5 books on images, the people who make them, and the people they make

On Looking • 159 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Reading is an important skill for illustrators, helping them develop a deeper understanding of their work and the cultural systems in which it is embedded
  2. Books on creativity and image making provide insights into larger social narratives and systems, shifting the focus from individual success to broader contexts
  3. Exploring the history and processes behind image creation through books can enhance critical thinking and appreciation for the creative industry