The Night Watch (detail) by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642
Over the centuries, major themes in art continue to appear and reappear. The nude, history painting, and animals—images from our earliest ancestors—are a few notable examples that artists have interpreted in styles ranging from the naturalistic to the surreal.
Art historian Joseph Cassar examines important masterworks within selected genres and offers a new way to understand and appreciate the similarities among—and the uniqueness of—the artists and the cultural norms that influenced their choices.
March 5 History Painting
This genre provides a visual narrative of significant moments in history. Artists discussed include Titian, Rembrandt, Jacques-Louis David, Benjamin West, and Delacroix.
March 12 Animal Painting
Wildlife has been a popular subject since early humans drew on cave walls. Artists discussed include Albrecht Dürer, George Stubbs, Franz Marc, and Picasso.
March 19 Fantasy
Fascination with creating imagery based in magical, irrational, and supernatural ideas was an early harbinger of what became Surrealism. Artists discussed include Bosch, Arcimboldo, Magritte, Ernst, and Dali.
March 26 The Nude
Paintings of the nude figure were predominant in ancient Babylon and Greece. The form was later embraced by such artists as Michelangelo, Titian, Botticelli, Giorgione, Rubens, Goya, Manet, and Modigliani.
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