Jean-Michel Basquiat’s seminal piece Hollywood Africans exemplifies many of the themes that recur throughout his oeuvre, from autobiographical detail, to racism and social and political criticism, in his unique Neo-Expressionist style. In this article, Singulart investigates the themes of this painting and takes a closer look at the revolutionary work of Jean Michel Basquiat. Basquiat: Early Life in New York…
Artworks under the lens
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Are you also fascinated by the world of luxury art? Have you ever wondered how certain paintings are designated fine art and given million dollar price tags? In this article, Singulart breaks down the five most expensive paintings of all time. While you might think a work like the Mona Lisa would certainly top the list, pieces like Leonardo’s famous…
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One of David Hockney’s first works made after he moved to Los Angeles in 1964, Beverly Hills Housewife is a classic example of his early paintings and part of his renowned California Dreaming series of intimate domestic scenes and portraits from this period of his life. In this article Singulart takes a closer look at the painting in the context…
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One of Frida Kahlo’s most famous works, The Two Fridas encompasses many threads that run throughout her entire oeuvre, from Mexican identity to the female experience and her own personal history. In her signature style, mixing fantasy and symbolism with realist detail, The Two Fridas is an enigmatic composition with enduring significance today. In this article Singulart deciphers the symbols…
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The Renaissance masterpiece The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci is arguably the most famous painting in the world. With her iconic smile catching viewers’ attention, she has lived in the castles of French kings, from Francis I and Louis XIV to Napoleon and today she remains a huge part of France’s cultural heritage despite her Italian provenance. In this…
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A Cotton Office in New Orleans is a seminal piece by impressionist artist Edgar Degas. On a trip to New Orleans in 1872, Degas was inspired to produce the piece after visiting the cotton office of his brother. The artwork, which mixes portraiture and genre art, is one of the most important portrayals of 18th century capitalism, and was the…
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Hailed as the first modern painting, Manet’s The Luncheon on the Grass was as scandalous as it was revolutionary. Portraying an ordinary scene of everyday life on a scale previously reserved for great historical or mythological compositions, Manet rejected the conventions of classical painting to forge a path toward Modernism. In this article, Singulart dissects the scandal behind Manet’s masterpiece…
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The Cubism movement emerged during the early-20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture. The movement is thought to have begun in Paris (specifically in the neighborhoods of Montmartre, Montparnasse, and Puteaux which were populated by artists) during the 1910s and 1920s. Cubism was chiefly pioneered by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Other important artists of the…
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Until the era of the French Revolution, the presentation of nude figures in European art were only permitted in religious or mythological paintings. Even then, it was discouraged. The nineteenth century was a time of questioning these conventions when many modern artists began playing with the symbolism of the nude. In this article, Singulart takes a closer look at the…
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The origin of abstract art is often dated to 1910 when Wassily Kandinsky painted the first non-figurative artwork in the history of modern art. His painting, bearing the inscription “abstract watercolor” on the back contained no evocation of observed reality. His piece would come to launch one of the most popular artistic genres of the 20th century. In this article…
