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Vase of Flowers, c. 1900-16 by Odilon Redon, MoMA.
Although primarily known as a Symbolist artist Redon created a number of floral still life paintings in his career. They all have a stark quality that allows the beauty of the flowers to be the focal point.
Mystery of the Missing Migrants by Charley Harper, various galleries.
Charley Harper is best known for his book illustrations from the mid 20th century.
Into Bondage, 1936 by Aaron Douglas, Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington D.C.
This work is part of a mural Douglas created that marks the history of the Black people in North America from slavery to 1936. They were displayed in the Hall of Negro Life at the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas.
Portraits of Edouard and Marie-Louise Pailleron by John Singer Sargent.
Sargent was one of the primer portrait painters of the 19th century. His work brought out the very best in his sitters and therefore made him very popular. These children’s father is Edouard Pailleron, a famous 19th century French playwright and his wife.
The Great Bath, the Ancient Roman Baths, 1st Century A.D., Bath, England.
Built as a combination of a traditional Roman bath and an homage to the water Goddess Sulis Minerva, elements of the ancient baths were uncovered in the 17th Century, but it was not fully excavated until the 19th century.
White Terrier, 1991 by Jeff Koons, multiple collections.
In 2000 Koons carried this image of the terrier to a huge scale when he created a giant floral version of the dog in Rockefeller Center. His work is always controversial and often outrageous, just as he intends it to be.
Portrait of the Duchess of Alba by Francisco Goya y Lucientes.
Known as Goya, in his lifetime he painted over 500 works and almost 300 drawings and lithographs. As the Spanish court painter many of his works were political in nature, especially focusing on the invasion of Spain by Napolean's France. This painting of the Duchess shows her pointing down to the sand where Solo Goya is written. She also wears two rings, one that says Goya and one that says Alba, this leads people to believe they were linked romantically.
Still Life by Giorgio Morandi, 1946.
Throughout his career Morandi studied and painted still lifes of bottles in pale tones. His idea was to portray the pure simple beauty of the objects in pale natural light.
Soliloquy by William H. Bailey.
The first time I saw one of William Bailey's still life paintings I instantly fell in love with the combination of starkness and the items he featured.
Winter Party, Edo Period (18th - 19th Century) by Utagawa Toyoharu.
The folding screens of Japanese art served as architectural features as well as decorative.
Daughters of the Revolution by Grant Wood, Cincinnati Art Museum.
Wood pokes fun at the prim and proper ladies and their intolerance. This is the only "satire" Wood owned up to, but many of his other works fit that definition too, even the beloved American Gothic.
Grant Wood, American Gothic, 1930, Chicago Institute of Art.
January Thaw, Edge of Town, 1921 by Lawren S. Harris, National Gallery of Canada
Harris was a member of the Canadian group of early twentieth century artists known as the Group of Seven. They had a Studio, which Harris primarily built and where many of the group created their artwork. Harris was from a wealthy family and wanted to build a space where the less fortunate members of the group could have studio space.
Self-Portrait with Fur-Trimmed Robe, 1500 by Albrecht Dürer.
Dürer was fully aware of his reference to paintings of Jesus Christ when he created this self-portrait. He did a series of self-portraits through-out his career. He writes in Latin "Thus I, Albrecht Dürer from Nuremberg, portrayed myself with characteristic colors in my 28th year."
The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, National Gallery London.
Painted in the 15th century, this work is full of symbolism all meant to bring good luck to the marriage of this couple. van Eyck and his brother Hubert are often credited with inventing oil painting.
Ocean Park No. 67 by Richard Diebenkorn, SFMoMA
Diebenkorn taught at the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco where one of his students was Mark Rothko. This is part of the Ocean series which features paintings constructed with large blocks of colors influenced by nature.
Girl with a Watering Can, 1876 by Pierre Auguste Renoir.
Renoir painted this young girl to attract people and some portrait business. Portraiture was the 19th century artist's bread and butter.
Lucy Ferry, 1986 by Robert Mapplethorpe© The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.
Mapplethorpe's work created a huge controversy when some of his work was deemed obscene in Cincinnati in 1990.
Melittion, 1882 by Frederic Lord Leighton.
Although this figure is dressed in the classical style, a clear reference to a Greek character could not be found. In a play from 1818 by Austrian Franz Grillparzer called Sappho there is a character called Melitta, who vies with Sappho for the love of the young man Phaon.
Niagara Falls, 1843 by Karl Bodmer, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha NE.
Karl Bodmer traveled with Prince Maximilian of Wiedneuwied as he explored the Missouri river. Bodmer was in charge of capturing images of the new and wonderful people, animals and places they encountered.
Galaxy, 1947 by Jackson Pollock, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE.
One of Pollock's earliest "drip" paintings this work incorporated house paint and automobile paint mixed with sand and ashes.