Famous oil painting part 2 - places 26 to 50

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Oil painting has a long tradition

Oil paintings can be traced back to around 650 AD , where the oldest surviving oil paintings can be found in the ancient historical settlement of Bamiyan in Afghanistan

This region lies on the once important Silk Road and is best known for its colossal Bamiyan Buddhas. Behind the statues, in a large interior carved into the rock, one can find the earliest examples of oil painting on the walls .

The oil paintings of that time already showed a wide variety of ingredients and pigments, and the murals were even covered with a layer of varnish.

This suggests that the technology was already quite advanced and must have been used in Asia before the 7th century.

The invention of oil paint was long attributed to the 15th-century European painter Jan van Eyck . However, written instructions for the production of oil paint can be found in manuscripts by Theophilus, which date back even further (to around 1125 AD).

At that time, it was probably not oil painting on canvas, but rather oil paint was likely used for the decoration of carvings, sculptures and wood paintings, especially for outdoor use.

The artists from the Netherlands were ultimately the first to popularize oil as a painting medium , which then spread as a contemporary medium throughout Northern Europe and then further to Italy.

The first oil paintings were painted on wooden panels, but by the end of the 15th century, the use of canvas had become increasingly popular. It was inexpensive and easy to transport.

Venice was a pioneer in the supply of sailcloth due to the abundance of sailcloth within the city. By 1540, tempera on panel painting was a rare medium, and Italy was moving more towards oil paintings on canvas .

In the following centuries, oil painting was almost continuously used on canvas as a medium to express many different styles and artistic movements.

So if you fancy a virtual tour through the most famous and popular oil paintings of the last few centuries, you can find our top 25 in the first part of this series of articles .

In this article we present our rankings from 26 to 50 .

Our Top 26-50

Despite the vast number of paintings that viewers have seen in museums and art galleries worldwide, only a relatively small number have been universally recognized as classics. Timeless in their beauty and execution, these works of art have transcended time and artistic concepts, making their mark on art history.

These paintings are familiar to people of all ages and cultures as representatives of the greatest works of art ever created and will continue to resonate in the minds of art lovers for many centuries to come.

In our collection of the 100 most famous paintings in the world, you will find those masterpieces that have achieved maximum artistic impact and acclaim. This list includes works by many famous artists, now housed in some of the world's finest museums.

26. “Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci

The Lady with an Ermine is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci dating from around 1489-1490. This stunning image measures 40.3 cm wide and 54.8 cm high. Unfortunately, the original background was likely covered over in the 17th century.

The subject of the portrait is identified as Cecilia Gallerani and was probably painted at a time when she was the mistress of Lodovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, and Leonardo was in the service of the Duke.

The lady in ermine was heavily retouched. The entire background was darkened, her dress below the ermine was retouched, and a transparent veil she wears was repainted to match her hair color. The result of this final retouching was to create the illusion that her hair reached below her chin.

Another change was the addition of dark shadows between the fingers of her right hand. A close look at the bottom two fingers reveals that they are considerably less distinct from the others, after an unknown restorer repainted them. An X-ray of this painting revealed the presence of a door in the original background.

Leonardo's Lady with an Ermine is one of the most important works of Western art. Only a handful of authentic panel paintings by him have survived. Leonardo was enormously curious and often painted with experimental materials or abandoned projects once he had mastered the formal challenge they each presented.

The Lady with an Ermine, an object of the greatest rarity, is a captivating image of exquisite elegance and reveals the artistic genius of Leonardo da Vinci's incomparable creative mind.

27. “The Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife (The Arnolfini Marriage)” by Jan van Eyck

One of the most famous and fascinating paintings in the world. A richly dressed man and a woman stand in a private room. They are probably Giovanni di Nicolao di Arnolfini, an Italian merchant working in Bruges, and his wife.

Although the room is perfectly plausible – as if Jan van Eyck had simply removed a wall – a closer look reveals inconsistencies: there is not enough space for the chandelier and no sign of a fireplace.

Furthermore, each object was carefully selected to proclaim the couple's wealth and social status without risking criticism of imitating the aristocracy.

The man's hand is raised, apparently in greeting. On the back wall, a large convex mirror reflects two men entering the room, one of whom also raises his arm. Van Eyck's signature is located directly above.

Could the man in the mirror be van Eyck himself, visiting with his servant?

28. “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano) is one of the most famous paintings in the world. This artwork was painted between 1494 and 1498 during the reign of Ludovico il Moro and depicts the last supper between Jesus and his disciples.

To create this unique work, Leonardo conducted extensive research and produced countless preparatory sketches. Abandoning the traditional method of fresco painting, Leonardo painted the scene "dry" on the wall of the refectory.

Traces of gold and silver foil were found, indicating the artist's willingness to render the figures much more realistically, including valuable details. After its completion, his technique and environmental factors contributed to the eventual deterioration of the fresco, which has undergone numerous restorations.

The last restoration was completed in 1999, using various scientific methods to restore the original colors as closely as possible and to remove traces of paint that had been applied in previous attempts to restore the fresco.

29. “The Capture of Christ” by Caravaggio

Caravaggio painted this extraordinary work in 1602 for the Roman Marquis Ciriaco Mattei. With a new visual approach to the biblical story, Caravaggio placed the figures close to the picture plane and used a strong contrast of light and shadow, which lends the scene exceptional significance and drama.

Judas has identified Christ with a kiss as the temple guards arrive to arrest him. The fleeing disciple in disarray on the left is Saint John the Evangelist. Only the moon illuminates the scene. Although the man on the far right holds a lantern, it is in reality an ineffective light source. In the features of this man, Caravaggio portrayed himself at the age of 31 as an observer of the events—a device he frequently employed in his paintings.

The painting was a well-documented commission and was frequently copied by contemporary artists. However, by the 20th century, the painting had disappeared after being sold by the family in 1802 and erroneously attributed to Gerrit van Honthorst, a Dutch follower of Caravaggio.

Scholars resumed the search for the original in the 1940s, as many of them no longer accepted the authenticity of a painting in the Odessa Art Museum. This painting is now known to be a copy made in 1626 for another member of the Mattei family.

The painting is now considered a key work by Caravaggio, created during the artist's short but highly productive period in Rome. It has all the characteristics associated with his great works: a dramatic narrative, chiaroscuro lighting, expressive figures, combined with a spiritual dimension and magnificent surface details.

30. “Starry Night Over the Rhone” by Vincent van Gogh

Starry Night Over the Rhône (September 1888) was one of three paintings created in the same month that incorporated the night sky and stars as fundamental symbolic elements. He also painted Cafe Terrace at Night and a portrait of his friend Eugene Boch, which was perhaps the most symbolic of the three.

Starry Night over the Rhône was painted at a spot on the riverbank just a minute or two's walk from the Yellow House on Place Lamartine, which Van Gogh was renting at the time. The night sky and its nocturnal light effects provided the subject for some of his more famous paintings, including The Starry Night, Van Gogh's most famous painting of the night sky.

The challenge of painting at night fascinated Van Gogh. The vantage point he chose for "Starry Night Over the Rhône" allowed him to capture the reflections of the gaslights in Arles on the shimmering blue waters of the Rhône. In the foreground, two lovers stroll along the riverbank.

Here, its stars shine with a radiance that emanates from the dark, blue, and velvety night sky. Scattered along the banks of the Rhône, houses also emit a light that is reflected in the water, contributing to the painting's mysterious atmosphere.

31. “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch

Of all the works mentioned so far, this is perhaps the one in which the most things happen simultaneously. Hieronymus Bosch , an early Netherlandish master painter , created the triptych oil painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights" between 1490 and 1510.

It hangs in the Museo del Prado and is an oil painting on three oak panels which, when read from left to right, shows scenes in Eden, the garden of earthly delights (perhaps warning its viewers against human temptations) and Hell.

Outside, when the panels are closed, a depiction of the alleged creation of the world can be seen.

The Garden of Earthly Delights has been studied and interpreted differently by scientists for years, based on symbolic systems including alchemical, heretical, astrological, unconscious, and folkloric ones.

The play inspired many later artists to quote or incorporate elements from it, including Pieter Bruegel the Elder, David Teniers the Younger, early Surrealists such as Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí , and later René Magritte and Max Ernst.

32. “The Boating Party” by Pierre Auguste Renoir

In 1880, Pierre-Auguste Renoir created this masterpiece of the Impressionist style entitled “Luncheon of the Boat Party” , also known as “The Breakfast of the Rowers” .

It is undoubtedly one of the artist's most famous major works and depicts private impressions from his surroundings. All the people in the painting are from his personal circle and have been immortalized from his perspective.

In the right foreground, Angèle, one of Renoir's frequent models, turns to the standing journalist Maggiolo. The painter Gustave Caillebotte sits backward in his chair, staring across the table at Aline Charigot, Renoir's future wife, who is purring at her terrier, while the burly Alphonse Fournaise Jr., the restaurant owner's son, leans on the balcony railing, surveying the scene.

In the middle sits Baron Raoul Barbier, a former cavalry officer, with his back to the viewer, talking to the woman who is resting on her elbows on the railing and who is presumably Alphonsine Fournaise, the owner's daughter.

Opposite Barbier sits the actress Ellen Andrée, drinking from a glass. Behind her, Charles Ephrussi, wearing a top hat, banker and publisher of the Gazette des beaux-arts, is conversing with Jules Laforgue, poet, critic, and Ephrussi's personal secretary.

In the upper right, Eugène Pierre Lestringuez, an official in the Ministry of the Interior, is laughing with Jeanne Samary, a famous actress of the Comédie Française, while the artist Paul Lhote, a close friend of Renoir, is tilting his head.

The restaurant “Maison Fournaise” in Chatou, idyllically situated on the Seine, was a popular meeting place for rowers and Impressionists of the time. However, as interest in cycling increased, the restaurant had to close at the beginning of the 20th century.

Thanks to the fame of the visiting artists and this unique work, the restaurant with an attached museum was reopened in the 1990s.

33. “The 28th of July. Liberty Leading the People” by Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix

At the Louvre, you can admire a fascinating oil painting on canvas from 1830, inspired July Revolution Mona Lisa, it is considered one of the museum's most important masterpieces.

This painting has become an important symbol of the French Revolution.

In July 1830, a major conflict erupted in France, known as the July Revolution. Within three days, a conflict broke out between the people of Paris and King Charles X, ultimately leading to his flight and abdication from the capital.

The reason for the uprising was the king's disregard for the liberties granted in 1789. Louis-Philippe I replaced Charles X and established the July Monarchy. The July Revolution was thus the second major revolution in France, bringing about lasting political changes in the country.

painting "Liberty Leading the People" depicts a scene with barricades taking place in Paris. In the background, the towers of Notre Dame can be seen, clearly identifying the site of the unrest.

As an eyewitness to the events, the artist decided to create this masterpiece, which later became one of the most important symbols of the French Republic. The work served as inspiration for numerous postage stamps and even the former 100-franc note.

The painting was first presented to the public at the Paris Salon in 1831. It became known at that time “Scènes de barricades”

From 1863, the artwork was exhibited in the Musée du Luxembourg. Seven years after the death of Eugène Delacroix, in 1874 the work, now entitled “Liberty Leading the People”, was presented in the Louvre.

If you would like to see the masterpiece live, you can find it in the Denon grand piano, room 77, on the first floor of the museum.

34. “The Swing” by Jean Honore Fragonard

The Rococo embodies lightness, sensuality and playful decadence in a time of upheaval.

Fragonard , a French painter and eroticist , mastered this style, and his works were not always well-received under Louis XV, as they were considered too risqué. An example of this is a scene in which a young noblewoman swings on a swing in a wild forest.

The old, gnarled tree symbolizes the overripe aristocracy of France shortly before the Revolution. The lady's exquisite clothing contrasts with the wild surroundings, which are recognizable as a park by the statues.

As she boldly tosses her right shoe into the air and spreads her legs, she offers a glimpse beneath her rustling dress. A man of noble birth lies enthralled in the bushes, holding his hat aloft, captivated by the allure of this game.

In the background, a somewhat older footman, probably her husband or a lover, is swinging on the swing.

When the French Revolution broke out, Fragonard had to pack his paintings and flee to his hometown of Grasse, where he was born in 1732, the son of a poor perfume merchant. He died in 1806. Most of his works can now be admired in the Frick Collection in New York.

35. “Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe” by Édouard Manet

In 1863, the French artist Édouard Manet the impressive artwork “Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe”.

The painting depicts four people sitting peacefully on a picnic blanket in a forest. Two men appear to be engaged in lively conversation, while a woman sits unclothed beside them. Another naked woman can be seen in the background.

In 1863, Manet's work was considered highly provocative and scandalous, as strict regulations regarding painting were in place in the German Empire at that time. These regulations were intended to promote conformist artists and exclude "free thinkers" by prescribing techniques, themes, and other specifications.

The annual Salon, an exhibition overseen by a strict jury, was the pinnacle of honoring conformist artists. However, more than half of the submitted works were rejected in 1863.

For the artists whose works were rejected, this meant an extreme burden, as access to the art market became almost impossible. Manet, however, could afford the provocation thanks to a large inheritance.

His first scandalous photo not only offended the public, but also his family.

The criticism of the prevailing art system was so strong that the then Emperor Napoleon III decided to create a parallel exhibition where the rejected works could be displayed.

After Manet's painting, titled "The Bath," was rejected, he exhibited it at the Salon des Refusés.

The masterpiece can be viewed today at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

Édouard Manet was born in Paris on January 23, 1832, and died there on April 30, 1883. His artworks are highly sought after on the art market, and some of his paintings have sold for millions of euros.

In recognition of his works, several streets in France have been named after him, including Rue Éduard Manet in Paris and other cities.

36. “Composition VIII” by Wassily Kandinsky

The masterpiece of Wassily Kandinsky's abstract painting , "Composition VIII" , is simply breathtaking. All the elements appear on the canvas like floating objects in space.

The circular shape, which sits calmly in the left corner, is warmed by the surrounding red and creates a contrast to the geometric shapes, giving the artwork a static appearance.

Kandinsky was fascinated by color from an early age and attributed transcendent qualities to it. His research focused on the interplay between sound and color, aiming to create a work of art similar to a composed song.

At the time the artwork was created, during the Bauhaus era , Kandinsky moved from the Soviet Union to the Weimar Republic due to artistic restrictions in the Marxist-Leninist government system.

During the years he spent in Russia and its successor state, primarily dedicated to museum reform and the advancement of his artistic theories, he was not productive in terms of creating artworks. Nevertheless, he returned strengthened and ready to paint.

The painting Composition VIII, the eighth in a series from 1911, was the first artwork Kandinsky created since the outbreak of the First World War. Unlike an improvisation, it was executed according to a specific plan. It was created in Weimar Germany in the early 1920s, after the transition from a monarchy to a democratic republic.

37. “The Gleaners, 1857” by Jean-Francois Millet

Millet's most famous work by far: "The Gleaners" shows a trio of women gathering the last grains of wheat from a field.

Millet found the theme of the women gathering the last grains of wheat to be an eternal theme, connected with stories from the Old Testament.

The painting was met with open contempt by the public. It presented, in a sympathetic light, the lowest strata of society at the time, who were exploiting the ancient right to remove the last remnants of the wheat harvest.

During his lifetime, this painting only attracted fame among the French upper class, who feared a glorification of the lower classes, and it only gained greater popularity after the artist's death.

38. “The Triumph of Galatea”, fresco by Raphael

Raphael, an outstanding painter of the High Renaissance, focused on women in some of his artworks.

particularly evident in the painting “Triumph of Galatea .” This fresco was created specifically for the Villa Farnesina in Rome, which was once owned by Agostino Chigi, one of the wealthiest people of his time.

The work is based on a Greek myth in which Galatea was part of a love triangle. She fell in love with the shepherd Acis, which made the giant Polyphemus jealous.

He killed Acis with a giant column. Although the fresco was part of a series, it was never fully completed.

Raphael deliberately chose the scene in which Galatea is transformed into a deity after her death and can thus remain among the gods eternally.

This transformation was the reward for her enduring pain and trials throughout her life. From deep emotion, Raphael painted the Triumph of Galatea as a response to his feelings about “Stanze per la giostra” .

Angelo Poliziano, another artist, wrote the “Stanze per la giostra.” This poem is considered a masterpiece of its genre from that period. The tournament in which Giuliano de' Medici participated was the setting for the story.

Galatea rides on a shell carried by two dolphins and is accompanied by two apparent cupids who are deliberately shooting love arrows at her head.

Raphael deliberately chose not to paint any of the main characters in the mythological story so that they would not distract from Galatea's apotheosis.

39. “The Lady of Shalott” by John William Waterhouse

The oil painting “The Lady of Shalott” was created in 1888 by John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) and depicts a scene from the poem of the same name by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892).

The canvas measures 72 x 91 inches and was first exhibited at the Royal Academy Exhibition. After being owned by Sir Henry Tate (1819–1899), it was donated to Tate Britain in 1894, thus becoming part of a public collection. The painting can currently be admired at Tate Britain.

The calm and gentle tonality of the work still enchants viewers from all over the world.

His later works clearly demonstrate the renaissance of the Pre-Raphaelite style in the art world. Although Waterhouse was active decades later than the first Pre-Raphaelites, he followed many of their same calls to action.

His paintings are influenced by Italian Quattrocento and medieval art . Waterhouse's later works are characterized by a strong interest in the precise depiction of nature and harmonize perfectly with Pre-Raphaeliteism through their saturated colors and rich detail.

The Lady of Shalott embodies unrequited love , intensified by numerous symbols of death, such as swallows and dead leaves. On the boat, the crucifix symbolizes the sacrifice the Lady is prepared to make.

Some experts interpret the lady's self-determined action as a commentary on the limited or nonexistent agency of women in Victorian England.

women were mostly confined to the domestic sphere and, like Elaine, longed for freedom and independence.

40. “The Dance Class” by Edgar Degas

When Degas visited the Opéra de Paris, his interest was not limited to the performances of the dancers on stage.

He sought to get to know the dancers behind the scenes, to admire their discipline and grace, and to observe their training by inspecting the dance studios.

Thanks to his good friend, he was fortunate enough to gain access to these private moments. In one of his paintings, he portrays the teacher Jules Perrot, a small, gray-haired man who, during the lesson, dominantly taps out the rhythm on the floor with his cane.

While the other dancers are already stretching and the lesson is coming to an end, the teacher is talking to the ballerina in front of him, who is listening attentively.

Degas was an extremely keen observer, as is immediately apparent upon first glance at the painting. Besides the obvious communication in the middle ground, we discover numerous more subtle gestures.

For example, a young woman on the left discreetly scratches her back, while her neighbor adjusts her earring. The woman in front rests her arm on her hip and fans herself.

A second version of the image shows a more lively scene. We immediately recognize Jules Perrot on the right, who is wearing a red shirt today.

Together with the ballerinas and their mothers, he observes the attitude – a pose in which the dancer stands on one leg and gracefully extends the other leg backward.

Degas did not wish to freeze movement, but rather to fully experience it in his mind's eye. For him, the resulting vividness was a source of solace.

In a letter to his friend Henri Rouart in 1886, he described how sad it would be if the leaves of the trees did not move.

41. “Reclining Nude” by Amedeo Modigliani

In 1917, Modigliani began his magnificent series of nude paintings . The women on his canvases are depicted from a close perspective and mostly from above, with their stylized bodies occupying the entire width of the composition.

The dark bedsheet on which they lie accentuates the radiance of their skin. Their feet and hands, however, are always outside the frame. Some of the models appear to be asleep, but most, as here, gaze directly at the viewer.

These works continue the tradition of depicting the naked Venus , which persisted from the Renaissance into the 19th century.

The oil painting “Reclining Nude” (“Nu couché”) from 1917 and 1918 was once one of the most scandalous paintings. Perhaps Amedeo Modigliani's most famous painting was auctioned at Christie's for the record sum of approximately $170.4 million (about €158 million) to a private collector from China.

This makes the painting the second most expensive work of art ever to be auctioned.

42. “Paris Street, Rainy Day” by Gustave Caillebotte

Inspired by academic art and shaped by his training at the renowned Ecole des Beaux-Arts under the direction of Leon Bonnat (1833-1922), Gustave Caillebotte to the realistic wing of the Impressionist movement.

His realistic painting style gave him a natural feel for contemporary art. Like his predecessors Jean-François Millet (1814-75) and Gustave Courbet (1819-77), he strove to depict the world as it existed, not as it should be. With gentle tonality, he created unique works that reflected his artistic vision and talent.

In this masterpiece, Caillebotte displays extraordinary monumentality and compositional virtuosity by taking up the typical everyday scene of the Impressionists.

He focuses on the bold boulevards introduced by Baron Haussmann (1809-91) that transformed the cityscape of Paris. The result is a blend of reality and fiction, skillfully choreographed yet effortlessly stylish.

The distant figures he depicts reflect the anonymity of the boulevards, while the chosen view emphasizes the enormous scale of the architectural development and overshadows the human figures surrounding it.

Many of the depicted figures appear isolated and lost in their own thoughts. Their expressions are subdued, and they seem to be hurrying rather than strolling. The cropped look and photorealistic effect of the image contribute to a modern aesthetic.

43. “Two Women from Tahiti” by Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) only truly focused on his art after his marriage in 1773. Unfortunately, his newfound passion led to his divorce more than a decade later.

Annoyed by Western society, he traveled the world and eventually settled in French Polynesia. Here he created some of his most famous paintings.

The canvases that Gauguin sent back to France from the South Seas reflect the freedom he exercised in creating images of indigenous women.

Here he oriented himself towards classical depictions of nudes and relied on gestures and facial expressions to conjure up the ideal “Tahitian Eve” , whom he invoked in his writings: “very subtle, very knowing in her naivety” and enviably “able to walk around naked without shame” .

The women whisper secrets, offer exotic flowers or (forbidden) fruits, and inhabit the tropical Eden of Gauguin's invention, in which his artistic vision – and his male gaze – prevail.

These two figures also appear in his monumental works Faa Iheihe (Tahitian Pastoral), 1898; (Tate, London) and Rupe Rupe (The Fruit Harvest), 1899; (Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow).

44. “The Executions of May 3, 1808” by Francisco de Goya

With relentless harshness and a deep melancholy, Goya vividly illustrates the faces of people haunted by death and despair.

The renowned Spanish artist Goya was inspired by the violent events of the French occupation of Spain (1808-1813) when he created this impressive work of art.

In this scene, the male figures symbolize the arbitrary execution of parts of Madrid's population. Opposite them stands a phalanx of uniformed soldiers, a contrast made clear by Goya's skillful use of light.

In particular, the lantern standing between the two groups separates them and almost gives the unarmed man in the white shirt a sacred aura.

It cannot be denied that Goya wove Christian iconography into this artwork. This refers to the questionable ethical and moral actions of an anonymous "shadow army" attributed to Napoleon.

The incident alluded to occurred six years before the work was created. At that time, Spanish troops resisted Napoleon's submission, leading to an escalation of the situation and numerous executions of Spanish citizens. On the night depicted in the illustration, approximately 45 insurgents lost their lives.

Created in 1814, the painting was painted with oil paints on canvas and is a proud three and a half meters wide.

45. “Breezing Up” by Winslow Homer

Homer developed this painting based on sketches and watercolors he made during a visit to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1873. He completed it in 1876, just as the nation was celebrating its centenary.

Over the course of three years, Homer refined the composition and reinforced its optimistic symbolism by giving one of the boys (instead of the man) control of the rudder and placing an anchor at the bow, symbolizing safety and hope.

When the painting was first presented at the National Academy of Design in New York in 1876, it was recognized as a positive expression of the country's future, an idea underscored by the original title "A Fair Wind," which suggests a smooth path into the future.

“Breezing Up” is an early example of a motif that would fascinate Homer throughout his career – that of men at sea – from his cheerful beginnings in the 1870s to darker scenes like “The Gulf Stream” decades later.

The finished work indicates that the significant influence of Japanese art on Western painters in the 19th century also affected Homer, particularly in the compositional balance between the left (active) and right (sparse) halves. Homer had visited France in 1866 and 1867, and the influence of the seascapes by French painters Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet is also clearly evident.

46. ​​“Olympia” by Édouard Manet

The nude model Victorine Meurent reclines on sumptuous blankets, gazing directly and challengingly at the viewer. Manet had met the young woman only a year earlier and quickly made her one of his favorite models.

Other artists were also inspired by her. But little is known about the mysterious beauty. She herself tried her hand at painting, learned to play the guitar, and later succumbed to alcoholism.

Manet, on the other hand, shows her in all her splendor – as a blooming muse who captivates the viewer with her gaze.

Manet came from a wealthy family and was considered charming, cultured, and talented. His painting "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe" had already caused a scandal, but he continued this tradition with "Olympia."

The motif of the reclining woman is reminiscent of works such as Titian's or Goya's Venus, but also of Giorgione's famous work "The Sleeping Venus" .

However, the woman depicted here is not a goddess, but a prostitute. The name “Olympia” has no iconographic significance, but sounds phonetically similar to ancient myths.

Manet aspired to join the ranks of the Old Masters and reinterpreted a classic theme in a new way. Unfortunately, his creative vision was not understood or appreciated by everyone. This constant rejection ultimately led to a nervous breakdown in 1871.

He was unable to sell the work during his lifetime, and even after his death it found no buyer. Only through the help of Sargent and Monet, who publicly appealed for donations, was the work finally acquired Louvre

47. “The Milkmaid” by Jan Vermeer van Delft

Almost everyone is familiar with the scene: A girl stands at the table with a milk jug in her hand.

Behind her is Vermeer's famous window, whose typical blue and yellow colors dominate the room. It is also known that Jan Vermeer van Delft had little interest in painting prominent figures from his hometown, as they held little artistic appeal for him.

But to feed his family, he ultimately had to meet their demands. He fought hard for his style, the proportions, and the composition of his works. In months of painstaking work, he only managed to complete two paintings a year.

Fortunately, he was inspired to create a masterpiece like The Milkmaid. The composition is masterful, and the viewer can discover a multitude of objects within the painting.

Folds on sleeves and skirts, blue and white Delft tiles on the baseboard, light reflections on the bread and a play of colors from the clay jug – there is so much to admire.

48. “The Fighting Temeraire” by Joseph Mallord William Turner

The 98-gun ship Temeraire played an important role in the British triumph over Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The painting was intended to symbolize the decline of British naval power. Because some of Turner's paintings were misunderstood by his contemporaries, his modern critics consider The Fighting Temeraire to be one of his most outstanding works of art.

Temeraire in Battle is a masterpiece that captivates the viewer. Turner impressively captures the mood and atmosphere of the Battle of Trafalgar. The painting exudes a certain melancholy while simultaneously celebrating the victory over Napoleon.

Turner deliberately chose the moment after the battle for his work. The Temeraire lies in the foreground of the painting, majestic and proud despite her severe damage. In the background, the sun rises behind a cloud formation – a symbol of hope and a new day.

The artist skillfully plays with light and shadow effects as well as color contrasts to create depth and drama. The warm orange tones of the sky horizon contrast with the cool blue of the water, thus intensifying the tension between life and death.

Another fascinating element is the plumes of smoke on the horizon – remnants of the fierce naval battle – which further enliven the painting. The viewer can almost smell the gunpowder.

But this artwork is not only technically outstanding: it also conveys a deep emotional impact on the viewer. One can practically feel the heroic spirit of that era – courageous men on the high seas fighting against all odds for their country.

“The Fighting Temeraire” showcases Turner’s extraordinary talent and his ability to bring history to life in pictures.

The painting is a milestone of Romanticism and is still considered one of the artist's most important works.

49. “The Boulevard Montmartre on a Winter Morning” by Camille Jacob Pissarro

world of Paris by the almost square artwork, which measures approximately 65 by 81 centimeters.

Camille Jacob Pissarro is associated with both Impressionism and Pointillism . Although initially controversial, Impressionism lost none of its appeal to this day, as Pissarro's painting impressively demonstrates.

For his paintings manage to capture the full fascination of the Parisian metropolis of the late nineteenth century. Even winter is clearly palpable; a delicate, cold fog seems to hang in the air.

The individual people, trees and buildings are sketched rather than carefully painted, with the intention of creating a special atmosphere in the picture rather than providing a photographic representation.

The colors are vibrant yet blurred, giving the painting a certain ambiguity. It's almost as if time itself has passed over the picture, leaving its mark.

The viewer can practically feel the pulse of the city – the bustling activity on the streets, the people in their elegant clothes, the carriages and horse-drawn vehicles. Yet at the same time, one becomes aware that all of this is transient. Technology is advancing, and with it, the cityscape of Paris is changing.

Pissarro captures this transience through his choice of subject: a bustling intersection in the heart of Paris. Here, old traditions meet modern achievements such as electric light and steam locomotives.

The interplay of these elements creates a tension in the image – on the one hand, progress , and on the other hand, the melancholy of the past .

It is precisely this ambivalence between movement and stillness , between old and new, that lends the painting its appeal. The passage of time is made visible here – not only in relation to architecture or technology, but also with regard to social changes.

The work invites reflection on how fast-paced our world has become – how we are constantly evolving but often forget to pause and reflect on where we come from.

50. “The Two Fridas” by Frida Kahlo

Original Title: The Two Fridas | Year: 1939 | Medium: Oil on canvas | Dimensions: 173.5 cm × 173 cm | Art Movement: Naïve Art , Surrealism | Location: Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

The painting "The Two Fridas" was created in 1939, shortly after the divorce of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The oil painting depicts the two sides of her personality.

On one side sits a broken-hearted version dressed in traditional clothing, while the version sitting next to her is portrayed as modern and independent.

The origins of the inspiration for the painting can be traced back to her childhood, when Kahlo wrote in her diary that the picture was based on her memories of an imaginary friend.

However, she would later reveal that it was the loneliness and separation she felt after the breakup.

In this oil painting portrait, the two figures are seated and holding hands. Both hearts are clearly visible, with Kahlo's traditional version depicting the left heart as torn open.

She holds the end of one side of the aorta in her lap, clamped shut with forceps, yet she is bleeding heavily. Her inner turmoil is reflected in the stormy sky.

The National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City acquired the painting in 1947 for 4,000 pesos, the highest price the artist had ever received for her work.

“The Two Fridas” is a powerful work that not only expresses the artist’s personal pain, but also touches on universal themes such as love , separation and identity.

It demonstrates art's ability to deeply touch us and express our emotions – a quality that makes Frida Kahlo's works so timeless.