Where Art Meets Story

Our growing archive of stories on art, design, and culture.

Inspiration: “Le Crabe,” by William Adolphe Bouguereau

In his own time, Bouguereau was considered to be one of the greatest painters in the world by the academic art community, and simultaneously he was reviled by the avant-garde. He also gained…
Inspiration: “Breton Girl With Jar,” by Amelie Lundahl

Amelie Lundahl was the youngest of eleven children[. Her mother died when she was three months old and her father, Abraham, a Town Representative (public prosecutor) died when she was eight. From…
Inspiration: “A Woodland Nymph,” by Philip Hermogenes Calderon

Calderon was born in Poitiers, France. His father, the Reverend Juan Calderón ( 19 April 1791 in Villafranca de los Caballeros; 28 January 1854 in London) was a professor of Spanish literature…
The Ashcan School: The Grit of Early 20th-Century America

The Ashcan School represents a pivotal movement in American art, emerging in the early 20th century as a powerful rejection of idealized academic art. This group of artists believed in capturing the…
Inspiration: “Wet,” by Anders Zorn

Anders Zorn was a Swedish painter known for his depictions of nude bathers, country festivals, and portraits. Employing a restricted palette of colors, Zorn captured various qualities of light and form with…
Biography: Edward Stott

Edward Stott, born on January 17, 1859, in Rochdale, England, emerged from the Victorian era as a prominent figure in the realm of British art. Growing up in the industrial landscape of…
Biography: Boris Kustodiev

Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev (March 7, 1878 – May 28, 1927) was a Russian painter and graphic artist known for his colorful and vibrant works that captured the essence of Russian life during…
Inspiration: “Braiding Her Hair,” by Christian Krohg

Christian Krohg was born at Vestre Aker (now Oslo), Norway. He was one of five children born to Georg Anton Krohg (1817–1873) and Sophie Amalia Holst (1822–1861). He was a grandson of Christian Krohg (1777–1828) who…
Biography: Georges de La Tour

Georges de La Tour, born on March 19, 1593, in the Duchy of Lorraine, now in France, was a painter whose work is celebrated for its unique use of light and shadow,…
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts: A Legacy of Excellence

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts stands as one of the most prestigious institutions for art education in Europe. Established in 1754 by King Frederick V of Denmark, the Academy has…
Inspiration: “Blonde and Brunette,” by Leo Putz

Leo Putz’s father, Karl Putz, was the Mayor of Merano. He began his studies at the age of sixteen at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, where he studied with the history painter Gabriel…
Inspiration: “Sondagsmorgon,” by Anders Zorn

Zorn’s art made him wealthy and he was thus able to build up a considerable collection of art. The objects were not only bought in his native country but also during the…