The Art of Deforestation
Landscape paintings show how quickly American forests changed in the early nineteenth century—and the mixed feelings people had about that change.
Arts and Crafts Democracy
The Arts and Crafts and Slow Food movements twinned pleasure and democracy though supporters of these artisanal crusades developed a reputation for elitism.
Eight Collections Perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month
Freely available images and other primary source materials from the JSTOR Collections.
Was Carl Linnaeus Bad at Drawing?
Linnaeus has often been thought of as a poor artist, but visualization was a core element of his analytical tool set.
Acacia: A Legacy of Artistry and Extraction
The thorny Acacia tree produces gum arabic, a versatile substance that’s been driving global trade for centuries.
The Case of Caspar David Friedrich
Born 250 years ago, Friedrich reimagined landscape painting by portraying the vastness of nature as a setting for profound spiritual and emotional encounters.
Mining for European Art
Advances in painting in early modern Europe were the product not just of artistic innovation but of changes in mining and manufacturing technology.
Surrealism in Cinema, 100 Years On
A century after the publication of the first Surrealist manifesto, the role played by film in the movement is still unfolding.
The Contested Legacy of Miné Okubo’s World War II Art
Okubo’s art showed the work of Japanese Americans forced to rehabilitate both the “enemy alien” on the home front and the enemy in the Pacific after the war.
A Brief History of the Muses
Scholar Alison Habens tells us more about the Greek goddesses who provided divine inspiration for ancient poets.