Humans have had a fascination with art from the time we first existed. The rock paintings here in Africa are examples of how the earliest people shared events and emotions in art. Today, we have artworks that have become famous icons in the world. Here are some of the most amazing artists and their paintings!
Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci
Period: Renaissance
The most famous painting in the world – the Mona Lisa – gained popularity because of the unique paint technique that Da Vinci used to paint it. Its permanent home is The Louvre museum in Paris, France. The value of the Mona Lisa is about $790 million (US dollars)!
Did you know!
The painting was stolen from The Louvre in 1911 by an Italian museum employee? The police caught the thief and returned the painting two years later
Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
Created: 1889
Period: Post-Impressionism (Modern Art)
Van Gogh, a famous Dutch artist, painted this depiction of the town Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to show his technique with forms and how they can express emotions. It is now part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, in New York City.
Did you know!
Van Gogh never achieved popularity in his lifetime? He only sold two paintings while alive and became famous only after his death.
Water Lily Pond by Claude Monet
Created: 1899
Period: Impressionism
This painting is one of a series of paintings of Monet’s garden. He enjoyed gardening, and spent much of his time painting outdoors. One of these paintings is four metres long! Monet used very unique brush strokes when he painted these.
Did you know!
Monet was going blind in his later years? Maybe this is why he used such unclear colours and brush stroke.
The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn
Created: 1642
Period: Baroque
This masterpiece is famous for its enormous size, the interesting use of shadows and light and the way the people in it seem to be in motion. Rembrandt painted 600 other paintings in his life!
Did you know!
This painting was actually painted during the daytime? A varnish that became dirty over time has given it its dark shade.
Read more about other famous artists and their paintings in Vol 7.6.
This article first appeared in Supernova Volume 7.6
Words by Saskia Brits
Design by Roman Ratush