ZK

06/21/2026

The Ballad of Lenore was painted by the French artist Horace Vernet (1789-1863).

It’s a scene about love and death, based on a poem called Lenore, written in 1773 by the German poet Gottfried August Bürger. It takes place in 1763 at the end of the Seven Years’ War. Lenore is waiting for the love of her life, William, to return from war. But while others return, there is no sign of William. So, Lenore starts to complain to God about it.

One night, a man looking like William appears at her door on a black horse, promising to marry her before dawn. She gets on the back of his steed, and they ride all night at frenetic pace. In the morning, they arrive at a cemetery, and it appears that the horse rider is the personification of Death. He has brought Lenore to the grave of William, where she will join William on the other side…

06/15/2026

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Vanity (1889) was painted by the French artist Auguste Toulmouche (1829-1890).

Toulmouche specialized in portraying the Parisian upper class, and he had lots of willing customers there during the second half of the 19th century, as many off these Parisians were busy keeping up appearances. And a beautiful dress and a little bit of self-love certainly don’t hurt in such a environment.

06/10/2026

06/08/2026

Surprised! (1888) was painted by the Italian artist Gaetano Chierici (1838-1920).

Chierici specialized in capturing happy and surprising moments from daily life (genre paintings). The artist grew up in a relatively poor farmer's family and that theme is reflected in several of his paintings, like this one. The girl is completely surprised by the geese that are barging into the farmhouse kitchen. And the smaller birds, geese, and kittens are happy to join the action.

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

05/27/2026

05/24/2026

The Art Critic (1955) by Norman Rockwell was the cover of the Saturday Evening Post of April 16, 1955.

The artist is studying the locket on the woman's bosom with a magnifying glass, trying to figure out how a Baroque master painted it. And it's the content of the two painting that add some humor. The lady, inspired by a portrait by Rubens, enjoys the attention she is getting by smiling and glancing sideways at the artist. Meanwhile, the three Dutch cavaliers (inspired by a painting by Frans Hals) are looking at the artist with a mix of jealousy and confusion.