Identity and art have always been deeply intertwined with one another. In no place is this more apparent than in the beautiful, twisting Celtic knot. These knots, with their intricate looping patterns, are timeless symbols of Celtic heritage, religion, nature, and spirituality. There isn’t just one type of Celtic knot, either. There are countless Celtic […]
Studies have shown that about one-third of adults have a tattoo. Almost a quarter have two or more. That number is only expected to grow with time as tattoos continue to become more popular in the coming years. Some of the most popular are Japanese tattoos. This tradition goes back more than 7,000 years to
If somebody asks who makes the best swords in the world, many will answer that it’s the Japanese. They may not be wrong although it’s hard to back the claim up with facts. History.com created a list of the best swordsmen in history; two were Japanese. Topping the list was Miyamoto Musashi, a part-time Japanese
Long before the written word, our ancestors embarked on the earliest forms of ancient cave art. They crafted scenes on cave walls that resonated across millennia. They provide a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of our distant ancestors. Origins of Cave Art Exploring the origins of cave art, it’s evident that not only Homo
What kind of doll did you play with as a child? Cabbage Patch Dolls and Barbies have ruled the market for a long time, at least in America. But did you know that dolls have been popular with children throughout the world for centuries? Dolls of all sorts have been beloved by kids for ages,
If this sword were used in Forged in Fire, it would cut easily through almost anything put in its way. If it were rated for design, it would still probably win the top prize, even though it’s more than 2,000 years old. It is one of a kind of blade that has so much history
The late 19th and early 20th century was a period of rapid colonization by Great Britain and other European nations. As artists were exposed to the art of other non-Western cultures from around the world it ignited an art movement called “Primitivism.” Artists were eager to latch onto something new and break away from traditional
The dawn of the 20th century marked a seismic shift in the world of art. Traditional boundaries crumbled and avant-garde movements took root. It was during this era that a group of French artists emerged. They challenged artistic norms and redefined the very essence of creative expression. Among these luminaries was Marcel Duchamp, a trailblazer
Kawaii has become a global phenomenon in recent years, adorning everything from fashion to entertainment. But what does it mean, and where did it come from? Kawaii is a Japanese term for things that are designed to specifically be endearing or cute. This is a concept that has dominated Japanese cultural influence around the world
From the 16th to 18th centuries, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, and Realism periods focused more on the here and now, whether it be real ideas or imagination. But in the 1900s, those ideas took a significant shift. Creative thinkers began to plan for the future and what lies ahead. This led to the Futurism era which
One of the biggest animated films in 2023 was The Boy and the Heron. It won the Best Animated Feature Film at the 2024 Golden Globes and the 2024 British Academy Film and TV Awards (BAFTA). It’s also a favorite in this year’s Academy Awards. Studio Ghibli is the company behind this critically acclaimed animated
In the pantheon of art history, few works encapsulate the triumph of human achievement quite like Raphael’s “The School of Athens.” This iconic fresco, covering the walls of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, is not merely a masterpiece of Renaissance artistry. The various murals on the walls represent the fields at the heart of humanist studies.