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Painting and sculpture

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Impressionist painting of a rural landscape with cows grazing, trees, houses, a church spire and a hazy sky at sunset.

Human evolution

idea

Why it took us thousands of years to see the colour violet

The colour violet was largely missing from art before the Impressionists, and is seen differently by different cultures. Why?

by Allen Tager

Two people viewing the Mona Lisa painting in an ornate frame, displayed against a dark wall in a gallery.

Beauty and aesthetics

idea

What happens if we make the Mona Lisa more symmetrical?

The Golden Ratio and symmetry are two universal rules of beauty. The problem is they conflict with one another

by Manil Suri

Illustration of legs immersed in water, with the lower half submerged, showing blue hues and ripples on the surface.

Mindfulness and meditation

film

A leaf, a bird and a fisherman animate Heraclitus’ aphorism on flux

A film by Michelle Brand

Painting of two women in historical clothing beheading a man, with one holding him down while the other uses a sword.

Artists and art history

idea

Gentileschi. Let us not allow sexual violence to define the artist

Artemisia Gentileschi’s body of work has been framed by her personal history. Her paintings should speak for themselves

by Eliza Apperly

Pastel drawing of a man with a moustache, surrounded by yellow background, holding a sleeping cat on his shoulder.

Neurodiversity

idea

When the mind is dark, making art is a thrilling way to see

For aphantasic artists with no mind’s eye, creating paintings is a way to experience the mental pictures they can’t see

by Adam Zeman

A colourful, textured painting of a forest with dark trees and vibrant foliage against a starry blue night sky.

Spirituality and religion

film

An exquisite Mongolian meditation on the oneness of all beings

Directed by Alisi Telengut

Drawing of a man in a cap and coat sitting with arms crossed, facing right, with a village and bare trees in the background.

Painting and sculpture

idea

Looking at portraits with an eye to evolutionary psychology

Why our understanding of Jean-François Raffaëlli’s ‘Roadman’ portrait can use a little help from evolutionary psychology

by Dan Sperber

A person in a witch hat observes a colourful, abstract painting featuring multiple characters, including a central nude figure, in a museum.

Beauty and aesthetics

idea

Why art seems more beautiful when you can see yourself in it

Research suggests that people find artworks more aesthetically pleasing when they’re personally relevant to them in some way

by Matt Huston

Abstract artwork depicting two distorted human figures with splashes of red and pink on a white background.

Painting and sculpture

film

Wangechi Mutu’s otherworldly artworks grow from the ground up

Directed by Ian Forster and Jackie Lebo