Explore Artworks

At the fountain (1893)

John William Godward (English, 1861–1922)

A woman in flowing classical dress leans against a marble fountain, her fingers trailing in the water. Sunlight dances on the ripples as she gazes into the distance, lost in thought. The cool stone contrasts with the warmth of her draped gown, frozen in a quiet moment of repose.
Portrait of the Artist’s Wife, Helene (1896)

Carl Newman (American, unknown)

A woman gazes past the frame, her expression unreadable. The soft light catches the folds of her dress, hinting at quiet dignity. There’s a story in her stillness—one she hasn’t decided to tell.
Saint Elizabeth Of Hungary (1879)

Hugues Merle (French, 1823–1881)

A young woman kneels in humble devotion, her simple robe pooling around her. The light catches her lowered eyes and clasped hands, framing quiet piety against the shadows. No crown marks her station—only the weight of compassion in her bowed shoulders.
I lock my door upon myself (1891)

Fernand Khnopff (Belgian, unknown)

A woman stands frozen in a dim room, her gaze distant. The air feels heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts. A locked door looms behind her, sealing away the world outside. Shadows cling to the walls, deepening the silence. Something lingers just beyond reach, hidden in the stillness.
Cyprinus macrophthalmus, The Telescope. (1785-1797) (1)

Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

A goldfish with bulging, glassy eyes swims across the page, its delicate fins etched in precise lines. The engraving captures the odd beauty of this creature—part elegant, part grotesque—its exaggerated features frozen in meticulous detail.
A Moroccan Street Scene (1879–80)

John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

Sunlight slants across the dusty alley, catching the folds of a merchant’s robe. Shadows pool beneath arched doorways where figures linger, their faces half-hidden. The air hums with quiet commerce—a basket of dates, a bolt of indigo cloth, the murmur of haggling voices just out of frame.
Les Fleurs

Henri Martin (French, 1860–1943)

A garden bursts with color—dabs of pink, yellow, and violet dance across the canvas. Loose brushstrokes blur the flowers into a dreamy haze, as if seen through sunlit air. The petals seem to sway, alive with the warmth of a summer afternoon.
The orphans (1830)

Ary Scheffer (Dutch, 1795–1858)

Two children cling together in the dim light, their faces shadowed with loss. The older one’s protective arm wraps around the younger, fingers gripping a tattered shawl. Empty space surrounds them, amplifying their solitude. A single beam of light catches the tear-streaked cheek of the smaller child.
The Art of Painting

Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, 1632–1675)

A painter’s back faces us, brush poised before a canvas. Light spills across the studio floor, catching the folds of a heavy curtain, the glint of a brass chandelier. A model stands still, draped in blue, holding a trumpet and book—silent, waiting for the next stroke.
Phyllis

John William Waterhouse (British, 1849-1917)

A woman draped in flowing robes stands beneath a tree, her gaze distant yet intense. The leaves rustle softly as if whispering secrets only she can hear. Myth lingers in the air, clinging to her like the fabric that wraps around her form. Something ancient stirs in her stillness.
Mrs Carl Meyer And Her Children (1896)

John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

A mother’s hand rests lightly on her daughter’s shoulder, their white dresses glowing against the dark interior. The boy leans in, his gaze direct—a quiet tension between formality and familial warmth. The brushwork suggests movement, as if they might step out of the shadows at any moment.
Contemplation by firelight (1902)

Pierre Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1851–1932)

A woman sits lost in thought, the fire’s glow flickering across her face. Shadows dance around her, deepening the quiet intensity of her gaze. The warmth of the flames contrasts with the cool darkness, wrapping her in a moment of solitary reflection.
Boletus ustulatus Paulet 3 (1915-1945)

Hans Walty (Swiss, 1868-1948)

The delicate gills of Boletus ustulatus fan out like pleated silk, their warm ochre tones contrasting with the mushroom’s sturdy stem. Every ridge and shadow is rendered with precision, as if the fungus had just been plucked from damp forest soil.
The soft porcelain of Sèvres Pl.17 (1892)

Edouard Garnier (French, unknown)

Delicate curves of Sèvres porcelain gleam under soft light, their surfaces smooth as eggshell. Each piece balances fragility with quiet strength, arranged in silent conversation. The play of shadows hints at unseen hands that shaped them, now stilled. A whisper of luxury lingers in the air.
The Artist’s Wife And Emilie Von Etter On The Balcony In Cannes (1891)

Albert Edelfelt (Finnish, 1854–1905)

Two women lean against a sunlit balcony in Cannes, their dresses catching the breeze. One gazes toward the horizon, the other turns slightly, as if interrupted mid-conversation. The sea glimmers behind them, a silent witness to this quiet, fleeting exchange between figures bathed in Mediterranean light.