Some paintings make us smile, some make us sad. Some make us anxious, some make us curious. Some, despite their stillness, unleash a flurry of thoughts in our heads that leave us utterly exhausted. Some stay in our mind’s eye even several years later. The fact that paintings are expressions of emotions is what allows each one of us, across nations and religions and professions, to identify with them in our own peculiar ways.
Every person interprets a painting differently. What would you think when you see a painting of a young boy in worn-out clothes standing by the shore, waves gushing to his feet? To the painter, perhaps, it was just an expression of his memory of days gone by, of a childhood by the sea, or perhaps a longing for what was lost. To the optimist, it might be a picture of unlimited opportunity. And to you, it might be something totally different.
The fact that paintings lend themselves to varied interpretations is also the reason they withstand the test of time, because, after all, they are expressions of human emotions, which are felt universally across times and centuries and worlds. So, no matter where you may be, no matter your religion or profession, you know of the famous Leonardo da Vinci and his Mona Lisa and Last Supper, of Michelangelo and his painting of the Sistine chapel in the Vatican, of Vincent Van Gogh and his sunflowers, of Pablo Picasso and his varied expressions of women, of Claude Monet and his powerful nature scenes and of Rembrandt van Rijn and his self portraits. You know art for art’s sake.
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An Introduction To Oil Paintings
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Flemish painter Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) is credited as being the first painter to use the technique of oil painting in his work. His 1434 wedding portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife, which is now in the National Gallery in London, is accepted by...
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Famous Paintings
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Even if you have little interest in art, you have probably heard names such as Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt van Rijn, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso. These were, after all, the greatest painters that ever lived. Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci’s...
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Abstract Paintings
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If you think abstract paintings are a phenomenon of the 20th century, you can’t be further from the truth. Islamic and Jewish religions have from their very beginnings prohibited the depiction of human forms. As a result, these religions developed a high skill in decorative...
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Oil Paintings
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Oil paintings come in all shapes and sizes, and may be based on a variety of themes to appeal to all tastes. They may be painted on different types of material, such as canvas or cardboard. Original classic oil paintings are among the most valuable...
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Chinese Paintings
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Chinese paintings are famous all over the world for their unusual combination of materials and different techniques. Chinese painting is a traditional form of painting and has been in existence since a very long time. A large number of exquisite wall paintings were produced in...
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Japanese Paintings
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Painting is one of the most popular forms of art in Japan. Japanese paintings, which were highly influenced by Chinese style of painting, are exquisite and at times can be very intricate. In the Muromachi period (1338-1573), Chinese paintings were introduced in Japan, owing to...
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Flower Paintings
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Painting is an expression of an artist’s imagination and reflects his perception of the world around him. Painters are usually inspired by scenery, landscapes, and other elements of nature. Most painters are captivated by the beauty and aesthetic appeal of various types of flowers. It...
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Native American Paintings
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Native American paintings painted by American Indians are highly popular in the United States and other countries. Many tourists purchase them as a souvenir or a gift for their loved ones. Native American paintings are contemporary and unique. Traditional native paintings were less prominent and...
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What You Need To Know About Painting
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Remember the ancient Greek legend of a contest between two great painters to decide which one of them was the better one? Zeuxis painted a still life that was so real that even birds knocked against the painting, hoping to get a bite of the...
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Impressionist Paintings
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‘Impressionism’ was one of the most important art movements in the 19th century that began when a certain section of artists from Paris began a public display of their art. This name was coined after the famous painting of Claude Monet. In the late mid-19th...