Leonardo da Vinci’s The Adoration of the Magi, despite its unfinished state, remains a complex and rich depiction of humanity within its biblical subject matter. In this article, Singulart examines the life and career of one of the world’s most famous artists and deciphers the meanings held within this unfinished masterpiece. The Adoration of the Magi and Da Vinci‘s Early…
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Jasper Johns’ renowned lithograph False Start bridges the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art and represents the development of his practice to encompass verbal as well as visual symbols. Overcoming the limitations of the symbols upon which Johns relied at the start of his career, False Start marks the transition into new territory, taking influences from Marcel Duchamp and…
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Jackson Pollock’s No.5 exemplifies his iconic action paintings and “drip technique” that he developed at the end of the 1940’s and for which he is famous. In this article, Singulart analyses this key Abstract Expressionist work and takes a closer look at one of America’s most renowned painters. Who was Jackson Pollock ? Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) was an American painter…
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Sky Above Clouds IV is the final monumental painting in a series around the theme of clouds, painted by Georgia O’Keeffe in the 1960s. In her mature, abstract style she created this atmospheric immersion in the sky-scape which oscillates between pattern and landscape. In this article, Singulart discusses Sky Above Clouds IV in the context of O’Keeffe’s work and her…
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Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece, The Kiss (Lovers), exemplifies his renowned Gold Period and defines Art Nouveau painting. With its sensual, decadent gold and silver patterns and iconic composition, today it is a universal symbol of romantic love and human relationships and one of the most famous paintings in the history of art. In this article, Singulart takes a close look at…
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Contrast of Forms represents Léger’s experimentation with the boundaries of abstraction and representation, a problem that preoccupied him throughout his career. Through a juxtaposition of tumbling geometrical shapes, thick lines, primary colors and raw canvas he pushed the boundaries of Cubism into abstraction, in order to best depict modern life. In this article Singulart takes a closer look at Léger’s…
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Jean-Michel Basquiat’s seminal piece Hollywood Africans exemplifies many of the themes that recur throughout his oeuvre, from autobiographical detail, to racism and social and political criticism, in his unique Neo-Expressionist style. In this article, Singulart investigates the themes of this painting and takes a closer look at the revolutionary work of Jean Michel Basquiat. Basquiat: Early Life in New York…
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One of Frida Kahlo’s most famous works, The Two Fridas encompasses many threads that run throughout her entire oeuvre, from Mexican identity to the female experience and her own personal history. In her signature style, mixing fantasy and symbolism with realist detail, The Two Fridas is an enigmatic composition with enduring significance today. In this article Singulart deciphers the symbols…
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The Renaissance masterpiece The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci is arguably the most famous painting in the world. With her iconic smile catching viewers’ attention, she has lived in the castles of French kings, from Francis I and Louis XIV to Napoleon and today she remains a huge part of France’s cultural heritage despite her Italian provenance. In this…
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Hailed as the first modern painting, Manet’s The Luncheon on the Grass was as scandalous as it was revolutionary. Portraying an ordinary scene of everyday life on a scale previously reserved for great historical or mythological compositions, Manet rejected the conventions of classical painting to forge a path toward Modernism. In this article, Singulart dissects the scandal behind Manet’s masterpiece…
