Explore Artworks

1870 [Women’s fashion in nineteenth-century Paris] (1902)

Henri Boutet (French, 1851–1919)

A Parisian woman adjusts her gloves, the intricate lace of her gown catching the light. The corset’s silhouette and cascading skirts speak of an era where fashion was both armor and art. Every fold, every ribbon, a silent declaration of status and style.
Scarus croicensis, The red Parrot-fish. (1785-1797)

Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

The red parrot-fish glides through coral shadows, scales shimmering like wet silk. Its beak-like mouth, built for scraping algae, hints at a life spent reshaping reefs. Every engraved line traces the creature’s motion—not just a specimen, but a pulse of the ocean caught in ink.
Summer (1890)

Frank Weston Benson (American, 1862–1951)

Sunlight dapples through the trees as a woman in white lounges on the grass, her hat tipped back. The breeze carries the scent of warm earth and crushed stems. Nearby, another figure bends to gather flowers, their skirts brushing against the long summer grass. Lazy afternoon light pools around them.
Mary Crowninshield Endicott Chamberlain (Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain) (1902)

John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

A poised woman in a flowing white gown gazes past the viewer, her gloved hand resting lightly on a chair. The soft folds of fabric and subtle play of light suggest quiet elegance, while her distant expression hints at unspoken thoughts. The portrait balances refinement with an air of mystery.
Madonna of the Carnation (circa 1475)

Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452-1519)

A young mother cradles her child, fingers brushing a bright carnation. The flower’s red petals echo the delicate folds of her sleeve, while the infant reaches with curious hands. Light spills across their faces, softening the quiet intimacy of the moment.
Still Life of Oranges and Lemons with Blue Gloves (1889)

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890)

Sunlight glows through citrus skins, their bright curves resting beside crumpled blue gloves. The gloves lie empty, fingers curled as if just pulled off. A quiet tension hums between the vibrant fruit and the abandoned workwear—something paused, unfinished. The air smells of zest and damp cotton.
Boletus bulbosus (1915-1945)

Hans Walty (Swiss, 1868-1948)

A bulbous mushroom rises from the page, its gills precise as folded paper. The stem curves slightly, weighted by the cap’s dark underside. Every line is deliberate, as if the fungus pressed itself into the paper to be studied.
Parisienne

Gustave Jean Jacquet (French, 1846–1909)

A young woman in 19th-century French attire gazes past the viewer, her lace collar framing quiet confidence. The play of light on silk and velvet suggests wealth, yet her expression holds something unreadable—a private thought lingering beneath the polished surface of high society.
Baigneuses (1892)

Berthe Morisot (French, 1841–1895)

Two women wade in shallow water, their dresses clinging to their limbs. Sunlight dapples the surface, blurring the line between reflection and skin. A breeze stirs the reeds; their laughter hangs just beyond the canvas.
Archives de l’histoire des insectes Pl.34 (1794)

Johann Caspar Fuessli (Swiss, 1706–1782)

Delicate wings and segmented legs emerge from the page—each insect meticulously rendered, their forms both alien and familiar. The engraving freezes these tiny lives in precise detail, transforming specimens into something strangely beautiful.
The Mandolin Player

Conrad Kiesel (German, 1846–1921)

A young woman cradles a mandolin, fingers poised above the strings. The soft glow of candlelight catches the curve of the instrument and the folds of her dress, as if the first note is about to break the quiet.
Poppy field

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890)

Golden poppies sway in the wind, their red petals bleeding into the green field. Thick brushstrokes twist the sky into a living thing. The earth hums with color, restless under the sun.
Fauna japonica Pl.015 (1833-1850)

Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (German, 1796–1866)

Delicate wings unfold against crisp paper, a Japanese insect preserved in ink. The engraving balances scientific precision with quiet elegance, each line tracing the creature’s form as if it might take flight from the page. Here, nature meets artistry in meticulous crosshatched shadows and fine, unbroken contours.
A Woman Seated at a Bench on the Avenue du Bois (1885)

Berthe Morisot (French, 1841–1895)

A woman in a flowing dress sits alone on a bench, dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The broad avenue stretches behind her, alive with the blur of passing carriages and distant strollers. Her stillness anchors the scene, a quiet figure amid the bustling Parisian promenade.
Blue Butterfly (1896)

Albert Bierstadt (American, 1830–1902)

A delicate blue butterfly rests on a leaf, its wings glowing against muted greens. The fragile creature seems poised between stillness and flight, a fleeting spark of color in the quiet wilderness. Every vein in its translucent wings catches the light, as if nature paused just for this moment.