The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Completed: June 18, 1889
Vincent Van Gogh, a genius and world-famous artist, painted The Starry Night during a challenging period in his life. While staying in a small mental asylum in Provence, Van Gogh created this iconic piece. Despite being a rational and articulate man fluent in four languages, he struggled deeply with identity and his place in the world. After conflicts with his friend Paul Gauguin, Van Gogh suffered from acute mania and hallucinations, leading him to famously cut off his ear. Diagnosed possibly with bipolar disorder and symptoms of syphilis, he painted over 150 works in the asylum, with The Starry Night symbolizing his feelings of confinement and longing for freedom. The swirling night sky reflects the view from his room, expressing a blend of turmoil and hope.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
Completed: 1665
Often called the "Mona Lisa of the North," this masterpiece by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer portrays an anonymous maid with a mysterious gaze. Unlike Vermeer’s other works, this painting uses a flat background and dramatic lighting to highlight the girl’s three-dimensional presence. Her direct eye contact and slightly parted lips create a sense of intimacy and enigma, as if she’s about to speak. The oversized pearl earring is actually a painted illusion of weight and size. The true identity of the model remains unknown. The painting is housed in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague.
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
Created: 1907–1908
Painted by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt during Vienna's Golden Age, The Kiss reflects the city’s transition into a hub of progressive art and culture. Known for exploring intimate themes, Klimt captures a couple enveloped in golden robes adorned with intricate patterns, resembling Egyptian mummies. The life-size painting is deceptively simple yet full of sensuality, with the gold background symbolizing a cosmic, timeless space. The golden halo surrounding the lovers emphasizes pure love and spiritual connection.
The Night Watch by Rembrandt
Completed: 1642
Rembrandt’s The Night Watch is one of the most famous paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. It depicts the District Two Militia Company led by Captain Frans Banning Cocq. The painting bursts with action, light, and shadow, balancing chaos and unity among the soldiers. Positioned at the center, the captain and his lieutenant lead a diverse group engaged in different activities, all captured masterfully on one canvas. This iconic piece is displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez
Painted: 1656
A masterpiece of the Spanish Golden Age, Las Meninas was created by Diego Velázquez, court painter to King Philip IV. The painting centers on the king’s daughter, Margaret Theresa, surrounded by her maids, dog, palace officials, and dwarfs. Velázquez cleverly captures a snapshot-like moment with several figures looking in different directions, while the king and queen’s reflections appear in the background. The painting offers a complex play of perspective and presence. It is displayed at Madrid’s National Art Museum.
Whistler’s Mother by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Completed: 1871
Known formally as Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, this iconic painting by American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler is a monochromatic portrait of his mother. It expresses unwavering love and devotion. In 1891, it became the first American artwork purchased by the French state and is considered one of the most important American paintings outside the U.S. Today, it’s valued at over $36 million.
Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Completed: 1876
This lively Parisian scene by French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir captures everyday leisure and socializing on the streets of Paris. People are dancing, walking, and chatting in modern attire, rendered through Renoir’s loose brushwork and vibrant palette of pinks, yellows, blues, and greens. The painting evokes a fleeting moment in time, almost like a photograph, with blurred figures and vivid colors that bring the scene to life. It is exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.