The hottest Art history Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Art & Illustration Topics

Walking Through Vermeer

backstory • 290 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Museums Artworks
  1. Vermeer's art continues to captivate audiences, with a major exhibition in Amsterdam showcasing much of his work.
  2. Exploring the history and locations related to Vermeer's life provides a deeper understanding and appreciation of his art.
  3. Various historical events and figures, like the Delft explosion and Hugo Grotius, add layers of intrigue to the story of Vermeer.

Chiaroscuro for the Modern Viewer

Through the Looking Glass • 99 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Cinema
  1. Chiaroscuro, originating from Caravaggio, brings depth and mood through contrasts between light and dark in visual art like painting and cinema.
  2. Modern cinema, influenced by chiaroscuro, uses lighting to color the mood of scenes and convey emotions or hints to viewers.
  3. Directors like Snyder and Fincher incorporate chiaroscuro in their works to amplify the tone and emotions, emphasizing gritty realism.

The Family Romance of Srijon Chowdhury

Covidian Æsthetics • 10 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Contemporary Art Exhibitions Artists Art Critique
  1. The Chowdhury exhibition showcased his unique artistic style and family experiences. It's interesting to see how personal stories can influence art.
  2. This exhibition was hosted at the Frye Museum from October 2022 to January 2023. Museums play a big role in bringing artistic expressions to the public.
  3. The exhibition was curated by Amanda Doonan, highlighting the importance of good curation in presenting an artist's work effectively.

The Pinched Nipple

Euro Desk Paris • 39 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Portraits
  1. The painting of Gabrielle d'Estrées and sister at the Louvre holds historical and artistic significance.
  2. The artwork is linked to historical figures like Diane de Poitiers and explores themes of power and femininity.
  3. Understanding the context and history behind artworks enriches the interpretation and appreciation of art.
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Manifesto

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Artists Art history Creative Process
  1. Productivity in art can be surprisingly high, as shown by Paul Klee who sometimes created 500 works a year. This suggests that making art can be more about the enjoyment and flow of the process rather than just the final product.
  2. There’s a common belief that art needs to be carefully crafted and special, but prolific artists often create works continuously for their own satisfaction rather than for external validation.
  3. Instead of viewing work and leisure as separate, finding joy in continuous creation like Klee did can lead to a more fulfilling life, where making art feels more like living fully rather than just a job.

Leonardo da Laundry

Diane Francis • 259 implied HN points • 08 Apr 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Art market Art history Money Laundering Legal issues
  1. The art market is often secretive, which can help people hide illegal money. High-profile paintings like da Vinci's _Salvatore Mundi_ have mysterious ownership and location, raising suspicions about their use in money laundering.
  2. Tax havens and anonymous art storage facilities allow people to buy and sell valuable items without paying taxes. This makes it easy for criminals to hide their money without detection.
  3. Governments in the US and Europe are now cracking down on illegal activities in the art market. New rules will force art dealers to report suspicious transactions, similar to how banks operate.

The Americans at La MaMa

Castalia • 59 implied HN points • 24 Dec 22
🎭️ Culture Theater Visual Arts Performance art Art history Cultural Commentary
  1. Dimitry Krymov's theater focuses on visual storytelling and is quite different from traditional American theater. It values the scenographer's role, where images and visual elements carry deep meanings instead of just following the playwright's script.
  2. Krymov's productions are relaxed and often humorous, allowing actors to interact and improvise freely. This creates a fun atmosphere where the audience can enjoy the art of performance without feeling the pressure of a typical dramatic narrative.
  3. The concept of 'chillness' in Krymov’s theater encourages audiences to appreciate the present moment rather than getting caught up in dramatic tension. This invites viewers to engage with the play in a more open and less stressful way.

The Misadventures of Mona

Euro Desk Paris • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history
  1. Follow the intriguing travels and history of the Mona Lisa, from 1500s to modern times.
  2. Many have tried unraveling the mystery behind Mona Lisa's smile, but its allure remains unshattered.
  3. Notable historical figures like Napoleon were captivated by the Mona Lisa, with some trying to claim it as their own.

Of Eagles and Terra Cotta

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 79 implied HN points • 29 Jan 21
🎭️ Culture Urban Nature Architecture Wildlife Art history
  1. There are many eagle sculptures in Seattle, especially made from terra cotta. They're designed to show off strength and grace, reflecting the traits people admire in bald eagles.
  2. The bald eagle population in Seattle is growing, thanks to efforts like banning harmful chemicals. People can enjoy watching these beautiful birds in urban areas.
  3. The Camlin Hotel is home to a famous terra cotta eagle, and it's just one of many artistic ways that Seattle honors this powerful symbol.

Political Art

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Political art Art history Social Commentary Cultural critique
  1. Political art reflects how groups in societies make decisions to live together peacefully.
  2. Art has historically played a role in politics, from Michelangelo to contemporary political artists.
  3. Artists throughout history have used their creations to provoke thought, question authority, and bring attention to important societal issues.

An Interview with Ben Street, Art Historian

Syntopikon • 13 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history AI Art
  1. Art can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere it's found - in real life, print, or virtually.
  2. Authorial intent in art isn't more important than how viewers interpret it; the artwork belongs to the viewer too.
  3. The high prices some artworks command do not reflect their intrinsic value; art and money operate on different systems of value.

Artists and advertising, where did the golden era go?

Mehdeeka • 1 implied HN point • 14 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Collaborations
  1. Artists in advertising have a rich history of creating impactful campaigns by aligning themes with products and messages
  2. Collaborations between artists and brands have shifted towards more artist-controlled 'collaborations' for added authenticity and creative value
  3. Engaging with art in galleries can be a personal and enriching experience, encouraging us to explore and appreciate different perspectives

Mike Pepi: Bad Data

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Criticism Digital Art Art history Cultural Institutions
  1. The rise of digital utopianism led to a belief that museums could be replaced by digital databases, but the implications and consequences of such a shift must be carefully considered.
  2. There is a concern that the push to digitize museums with AI, machine learning, and software interactions may not actually democratize the field, but rather empower tech companies at the expense of the museum's autonomy and role in art historical discourse.
  3. Questioning the need to 'datafy' museums highlights a larger trend of tech solutionism and the potentially negative impact of trying to make museum information utilitarian for platform capitalist corporations rather than prioritizing art history and the institution itself.

Jak Ritger: DIGITAL LOCAL: Prehistory of Viral Media

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Art history Digital Media Social media
  1. Memes are complex and not fully understood in terms of what truly defines them - it's not just the image but also its context, language, style, and speed.
  2. Understanding the historical context of 'Viral Media' helps in appreciating its impact on art and culture over time, providing insights into today's media landscape.
  3. Exploring different forms of media and art through history, from Surrealism to Outsider Art, helps in dissecting the evolution and influence of viral content.

Latent Space Art Academy

Cybernetic Forests • 0 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Data Ethics Cybernetics Art history Digital Art
  1. The Latent Space Art Academy offers a course on AI images, delving into data ethics and media studies through histories of computation and art.
  2. The course includes guest lectures, exploring topics like cybernetics, art, AI-generated knitting patterns, and the societal impacts of AI technologies.
  3. By focusing on making images with AI, the course aims to help students understand how AI works, its cultural context, and how it can redefine our relationship with technology.

The life and art of Mary Tuthill Lindheim as told through her credo

LOST ART • 0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Art history Cultural impact Contemporary Art Craftsmanship
  1. Each day is a gift to embrace and enjoy. It's important to appreciate the beauty around us and find joy in simple moments.
  2. Living simply can lead to discovering richness in life. Mary was inspired by the desert's beauty, and it shaped her art and perspective.
  3. Taking a stand for justice is crucial, even when it's scary. Mary taught us that believing in something gives you the courage to fight for it, no matter how daunting.

For the Love of Art

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Digital Art Art history Art Critique
  1. Microsoft is developing new tools like Visual ChatGPT that use AI to turn text into images. This makes it easier for people to create pictures without needing complex prompts.
  2. Visual ChatGPT combines different technologies, making it simpler for users to generate visuals. It aims to improve how we interact with text-to-image models.
  3. The focus is on making technology more user-friendly, helping those who find current systems hard to navigate. This is a step towards making artistic creation accessible for everyone.