The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp was the turning point of Rembrandt’s career. As a relatively unknown painter, it was a huge coup for the precocious young artist to obtain such a prestigious commission. But why was Rembrandt painting anatomy lessons? And who is Dr Nicolaes Tulp, the main subject of the portrait? Singulart will explore these questions, as…
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Within Café Terrace at Night, Vincent van Gogh captures a dreamy nighttime scene of a café in his beloved adopted town of Arles. It is the first of his starry night trilogy, with Starry Night Over the Rhône and The Starry Night following in later years. In this article, Singulart will explore the composition of Café Terrace at Night, van…
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Victory Boogie Woogie is the last artwork by abstract artist Piet Mondrian, although it was never completed. It encapsulates the buzzing energy of boogie woogie music and New York, where Mondrian relocated in 1940. Victory Boogie Woogie is considered amongst Mondrian’s greatest artistic achievements, showcasing a new direction for his primary-colored, meticulously planned art. In this article, Singulart will examine…
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Although the name Roy Lichtenstein conjures up images of comic print reproductions and heroines in distress, he also produced a series of landscape paintings using his signature primary colors and Ben Day dots. In his 1965 piece Yellow landscape, Lichtenstein utilizes these elements, using the plastic paper Rowlux to create a piece that displays his high art knowledge and his…
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Titian’s 1534 artwork Venus of Urbino is thought to be a masterpiece of the high renaissance movement, depicting a young woman reclining on an opulent bed. It is also seen as one of history’s most controversial images, due to its frank depiction of female sexuality and Titian’s choice to display a nude in a domestic setting, rather than a mythical…
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Composition II with Red, Blue and Yellow is the epitome of the neo-plasticism movement, championed by abstract artist Piet Mondrian. Mondrian became infamous for his radically simplified artworks, which combined primary colors with strong vertical and horizontal lines. In this article, Singulart examines the trajectory of Mondrian’s artistic career, the creation of the De Stijl movement, and looks in detail…
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The Potato Eaters is considered to be Vincent Van Gogh’s first significant artwork and his earliest masterpiece. It is the culmination of months of study by Van Gogh, observing working class families and their traditions, and creating hundreds of sketches until he settled on the scene depicted in The Potato Eaters. Van Gogh would later write, “I am plowing on…
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The Large Bathers is an example of Renoir’s experimentation combining a classic painting style with the newer style of the impressionists. Depicting three nude bathers frolicking at the water’s edge, the piece took Renoir three years to complete. In this article, Singulart explores the creative process behind The Large Bathers, as well as examines the symbolism of nude bathers to…
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The School of Athens is a fresco by renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio (Raphael), representing the greatest intellectual figures of the time. It is one of the four frescoes commissioned by Pope Julius II, and is still on display in its original place of creation in Vatican City. The School of Athens is believed to be Raphael’s masterpiece, demonstrating the pinnacle…
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Gray Tree is an early artwork by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. The stark, monochromatic piece is almost unrecognizable as a Mondrian artwork; it certainly does not encapsulate the bold lines and primary colors that became his legacy. However, Gray Tree shows us Mondrian’s early experiments with cubism. In this article, Singulart looks at Mondrian’s brief but influential dalliance with cubism,…
