Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci | Pháp , 1517

The painting Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci is a small-scale portrait of a woman
with a mysterious gaze and a subtle smile. Mona Lisa is depicted against a natural
background, with an expansive landscape and a particular emphasis on the woman's
face. Prominent details include soft lighting and delicate colors, along with da Vinci's
meticulous technique in creating movement in the girl's hair and clothing. Mona Lisa's
smile is described as subtle and enigmatic, creating a mysterious and captivating
beauty. The painting is also notable for Leonardo's innovative painting techniques,
especially in the use of light and shadow, creating a natural 3D effect on the canvas.
In addition, special attention to details such as the background scenery, the light in
the eyes, and the skin tones contribute to a lively and uniquely characteristic work of
art. The artwork is owned by the French government and is currently exhibited at the
Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

View Painting

The Napoleon Crossing the Alps

Jacques-Louis David | Rueil-Malmaison , 1800

"The Napoleon Crossing the Alps" is a famous work by the Italian artist Giorgione. However,
the meaning and details of this painting remain a debated issue in the art world. The
painting is believed to have been created around the 16th century and retains some
mysterious elements. Its name is derived from one of the first individuals who described
the artwork. The details of the painting often depict an elderly man, appearing contemplative,
standing next to the Alps, a young woman standing near him, and a child lying in the arms
of the young woman. The natural scenery and lighting are delicately crafted, creating a
mystical atmosphere. This artwork has left a lasting impression and has sparked numerous
hypotheses regarding its meaning and inspiration, making it one of the mysterious and
sophisticated masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

View Painting

American Gothic

Grant Wood | Chicago , 1930

"American Gothic" is a famous painting by the artist Grant Wood, completed in 1930.
The painting is often considered an icon of American rural art in the 1930s. In the
painting, two main characters, a man and a woman, stand in front of a rural
farmhouse, with a blue sky and grass surrounding them. The man holds a pitchfork,
appearing to be a farmer, while the woman stands beside him, likely his wife or
a household helper. Both of them gaze directly at the viewer with serious and
somewhat stern expressions. The background is often described as stark, creating
a serious and rigid atmosphere. "American Gothic" is often interpreted as a symbol
of the strength, independence, and stern character of American farmers. The painting
has become a significant cultural and artistic icon, reflecting the spirit of American
rural life during the challenging times of the Great Depression.

View Painting

Glow of Hope

Sawlaram Haldankar | Mysore , 1945-1946

"The Glow of Hope" is one of the masterpieces by S.L. Haldankar, also known as
the "Woman with the Lamp," created in 1945-46. The artist, Haldankar, chose his
daughter Geeta as the subject for the painting after seeing her dressed beautifully
in a saree during the Diwali festival, holding a candle in one hand and using the
other hand to protect the flame from the wind. The most notable effect of this
famous painting is the heightened shadow behind the subject, emphasizing the
luminosity.

View Painting

Portrait of Mari Clasen

Halfdan Egedius | Na Uy , 1895

The oil painting by Mari Clasen is one of the world-famous artworks. It was
painted by Hafdan Johnson Egedius from Drammen, Norway, when he was
17 years old in 1895. He masterfully blended colors to depict the beauty of a
young woman from central southern Norway. The painting speaks about the
culture and beauty of the land.

View Painting

Lady with Ermine

Leonardo da Vinci | Italia , 1489–1490

"The Lady with an Ermine" is a painting by the renowned Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci,
created around 1489-1490. The artwork depicts a young woman named Cecilia Gallerani,
dressed in lavish attire and wearing a pink hat, holding an albino ermine. The interpretation
of the painting often revolves around expressing the character of the female protagonist
and the relationship between humans and animals. Many believe that this painting
showcases Leonardo's creativity in blending art and nature, emphasizing details and light
to create an exquisite and visually appealing masterpiece.
Under the skilled hand of Leonardo, the painting is not just an ordinary portrait but also a
masterpiece of art, combining refinement in detail and creativity in expression.

View Painting

Las Meninas

Diego Velázquez | Madrid , 1656

The painting, as perceived by FJ Sánchez Cantón, describes a room within the
Royal Alcazar of Madrid the reign of King Philip IV Spain. It portrays
several identifiable characters from the Spanish court, captured in a specific
moment as if in a snapshot. Some characters gaze outward from the frame
towards the viewer, while others interact with each other. The 5-year-old
Infanta Margaret Theresa is surrounded by a retinue comprising maids of
honor, attendants, guards, two dwarfs, and a dog. Directly behind them,
Velázquez depicts himself working on a large painting. Velázquez looks out
into the space of the painting where the viewer of the artwork would stand.
Behind them, there is a reflective mirror showing the upper parts of the king
and queen. They seem to be placed outside the painting space in a position
similar to that of the viewer, although some scholars have speculated that
their images are reflections from the painting Velázquez is working on.

View Painting

The Scream

Edvard Munch | Oslo , 1893

"The Scream" is the title of one of four versions of a composition, both painted and
printed on stone, in the expressionist style by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch
between 1893 and 1910. All versions depict a figure fraught with existential despair
set against a tumultuous sky painted in shades of red. Munch was not concerned
with depicting a specific scene but rather detested the complacency of sentiment.
His intent was to express his strongest, immediate emotions most forcefully.
Consequently, the painting is tilted, unbalanced, with bold and vivid strokes, creating
a stark and intense visual impact. The background landscape in the painting is of the
Oslofjord cityscape, viewed from Ekeberg, Oslo.

View Painting

The Kiss

Gustav Klimt | Austria , 1907–1908

The Kiss (in German Der Kuss) is an oil-on-canvas painting with added gold leaf,
silver and platinum by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. It was painted
at some point in 1907 and 1908, during the height of what scholars call his "Golden
Period". It was exhibited in 1908 under the title Liebespaar as stated in the catalogue
of the exhibition. The painting depicts a couple embracing each other, their bodies
entwined in elaborate beautiful robes decorated in a style influenced by the
contemporary Art Nouveau style and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts
movement. The painting now hangs in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
museum in the Belvedere, Vienna, and is considered a masterpiece of Vienna
Secession and Klimt's most popular work after Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
It is considered by many as a famous work of art.

View Painting

The Starry Night

Vincent van Gogh | Museum of Modern Art , 1889

"Starry Night" depicts the scenery outside the window of Vincent
van Gogh's hospital room in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Southern
France, during the night of May 1889. Van Gogh decided to enter
the Saint-Rémy mental asylum, where he resided for the next
year. Despite being interrupted by bouts of illness, he produced
numerous artworks during his time there. Inspired by the
surrounding landscape of the asylum, he painted "Starry Night"
in June 1889.

View Painting

The Persistence of Memory

Salvador Dalí | New York , 1931

In this section of Salvador Dalí's artwork "The Persistence of Memory," there is
a humanoid figure at the center of the composition, described within a
strange "monster." Dalí often uses abstract humanoid figures as symbols of
himself, turning them into self-portraits that frequently appear in his works.
The orange clock at the bottom left of the painting is covered by ants,
symbolizing decay. Another clock has a fly perched on it, casting a shadow
that resembles a human figure when illuminated. The elongation of memory
is depicted through the "precision of realistic painting technique," often
found more in dreams than in conscious awareness. The hazardous rocks
on the right symbolize the nose of the Cap de Creus peninsula in Catalonia,
where Dalí lived. The warning and bizarre shadow allude to Puig Pení.

View Painting

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci | Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan ,
1495–1498

"The Last Supper" is a famous painting by the artist Leonardo
da Vinci. The painting is located in the dining hall of the Santa
Maria delle Grazie monastery in the city of Milan. According to
the Gospel books, the Last Supper refers to the final meal that
Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. In Vinci's
painting, he depicts a scene from the Bible where Judas, one of
Jesus' disciples, betrays him to the opposing forces of that time,
represented by religious leaders and Roman authorities, in
exchange for 30 pieces of silver. During the Last Supper,
Jesus (depicted in the center of the painting) says to his
disciples, "Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."

View Painting