Salome, the femme fatale
According to Mark’s Gospel, Salome’s mother Herodias wanted John the Baptist dead because he spoke out against her marriage to her brother-in-law, Herod. Herod would not put John to death, because he “feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and…
Dancing Seductress: Salome
Salome is one of many “bad girls” in art history. The step-daughter of King Herod, she was partially responsible for killing John the Baptist. You can read the full story in Mark 6:14-30. Herod was hesitant to kill John, for…
Albrecht Durer and the Man of Sorrows
Albrecht Dürer was born in 1471 to a successful family, the head of whom was a goldsmith. When he was 15, Dürer began studying with Michael Wolgemut, a German printmaker. It was under his tutelage that Dürer shaped into a…
In the Conservatory
I am transfixed by the man’s gaze and gently extended finger, ever so slightly reaching toward the woman as he holds his cigar – leading me to the woman’s hand, to her presence in the work. Their hands barely meet…
The Massacre at Chios
Note: I wrote the following essay excerpt for UCLA’s 19th Century European Art course. It was written against the backdrop of life change, excitement, death, and grief. The class was my first at UCLA, and the course’s professor was the…
The Magic of the Louvre
This is me in 2007 front of the Winged Victory of Samothrace. I love this photo because it sums up so much of my trip and the emotion behind it. I was 18. I went to Europe (Italy, France, Spain)…
What is Resemblance?
This brief exploration stems from a conversation I had with an art history professor earlier this year. “Well, what is resemblance?” he mused. Ever since he asked, I’ve had it nipping at the back of my brain, waiting to be…
Fun website!
I just discovered a great little website: ArtAndCritique.com, a blog that focuses on the analysis, exploration, and examination of art and artistic methods. From what I can tell, it hasn’t been updated in a while, but the entries are still relevant,…
