The Enigmatic Allure of ‘A Bar at the Folies-Bergère’ by Edouard Manet
In Édouard Manet‘s painting, “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère,” a complex narrative unfolds before our eyes. At first glance, the composition seems straightforward, with a barmaid standing behind a counter in a bustling Parisian nightclub. However, upon closer inspection, subtle details reveal a deeper story. The barmaid’s melancholic expression and distant gaze suggest a sense […]
The Great Wave off Kanagawa: A Catastrophe or a Triumph Over the Elements?
A huge wave is about to engulf people sailing in fragile fishing boats. It seems that the confrontation between man and nature will lead to disaster. But only if we look at the painting from a European perspective—from left to right. Yet the artist gave us a choice. He combined techniques from European and Japanese […]
Two-faced portrait, or the other side of an unequal marriage.
Blending four paintings in one? A 15th-century artist achieved this, concealing the essence of his work. But why, and from whom? The history of the Urbino diptych by Piero della Francesca cannot be understood by standing in front of the painting in a museum for a couple of minutes. 👉 The man on the right […]
Hokusai
The Great Wave That Swept the World He called himself Old Man Crazy To Paint and made his best work in his 70s. As his dragons, deities, poets and wrestlers go on show, we look at the obsessions of the poster-boy for Japanese art Had Katsushika Hokusai died when he was struck by lightning at the age […]
Sculpting Sound. The Unlikely Bond of Satie and Brancusi.
In the realm of art and creativity, the unexpected often unfolds, bringing together seemingly disparate elements into a harmonious whole. Such was the case when composer Erik Satie and sculptor Constantin Brancusi crossed paths in Paris nearly a century ago. Just as colors on a palette blend to form a masterpiece, Satie and Brancusi’s contrasting […]