The ten most expensive paintings in history were painted by men.
questions-arthistory
What does it mean to be an "old master" and to make a "masterpiece"? Kerry James Marshall talks about his practice and the ideas driving it.
What does it mean to be an ...
What's the point of making realistic paintings when photography can do the trick?
The case for Realism
Should art be beautiful? Revisit ancient philosophers' thoughts on beauty and consider why we might be skeptical of beauty today.
Art must be beautiful
There have always been women in the arts, just not in the history books—or even in our museums. Change is slow.
Unlock Art: Where are the Women?
Attitudes towards objects differ between cultures. Don’t discriminate art from craft—call it all “the visual arts.”
Is there a difference between art and ...
Whose property is it anyway? Even when we’re talking about humanity’s greatest achievements, institutions disagree.
What is cultural heritage?
Artistic labor has changed over time—so has its perceived value. Now a mere idea can be worth its weight in gold.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
