Apr 23 2023
There was a star danced, and under that was I born.-William Shakespeare William Shakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights in history, known for his iconic works such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. However, there are many lesser-known facts about his life that are just as fascinating. From his lost play to his …
Apr 14 2023
Victor Borisov-Musatov was a Russian painter and prominent figure in the Symbolist movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His unique style, characterized by dreamlike landscapes and ethereal figures, had a significant impact on the development of art history. Learn more about his life and work here. Who was Victor Borisov-Musatov? Victor Borisov-Musatov …
Mar 10 2023
Although she spent her early years in acting and advertising, Toni Frissell is well known for her informal portrait photographs and fashion photography. Frissell was born on this day March 10, 1907 in Manhattan, New York. During WWII, Frissell volunteered for the American Red Cross, Women’s Army Corps, and Eighth Army Air Force, providing countless …
Feb 16 2023
Born in Phillips, Wisconsin in 1921, photographer Esther Bubley captured the magic in the everyday in her camera lens. She was a thriving photojournalist and documentary photographer, especially in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, contributing to the likes of Life magazine and the “How America Lives” series in the Ladies’ Home Journal. Her intimate portraits of a …
Feb 14 2023
Swiss painter and graphic designer Plinio Colombi was born on this day February 14, 1873 in Bellinzona, Switzerland. Colombi first studied architecture at Technikum Winterthur, but later he switched his studies to the arts. He has painted numerous natural scenes and worked as a Swiss poster artist and graphic designer. Colombi died on September 22, …
Feb 11 2023
Elsa Beskow has written and illustrated over 40 published children’s books, and is a beloved storyteller in her home country of Sweden, where she was born on February 11, 1874. Having entertained scores of children as well as adults for over a hundred years, Beskow is also known as the ‘Beatrix Potter’ of Scandinavia. Elsa …
Jan 14 2023
French impressionist painter Berthe Morisot was born Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot on this day January 14, 1841 in Bourges, Cher, France. Though now widely recognized and admired for her creative merits, in her time, Morisot’s art was frequently described as full of “feminine charm” by her male contemporaries, a statement which Morisot noted as a frustration in …
Jan 07 2023
American author, filmmaker, folklorist, and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama. In 1894, Hurston moved with her family to Eatonville, Florida, which became the setting of many of her stories. In fact, the citizens of Eatonville still celebrate the writer at the “Zora! Festival“. Hurston wrote over 50 short …
Dec 23 2022
French-Vietnamese film director Trần Anh Hùng was born on this day in 1962 in Da Nang, Vietnam. He moved to France at the age of 12, and later attended university as a philosophy major. However, after seeing the movie A Man Escaped by Robert Bresson, Hùng changed his studies to film and photography. He started creating …
Nov 25 2022
Today’s artist spotlight is on the American Modern artist, Charley Harper. He was born on the family farm in Frenchton, West Virginia, on August 4, 1922. Growing up, he not only had the farm to explore, but also the Appalachian hills, where he spent time wandering the land and observing the wildlife. This upbringing suited …
