Art in 5

Painted in 1948 by American artist Andrew Wyeth, Christina’s World stands as one of the most iconic works of mid-20th-century American art. Executed in egg tempera on gessoed panel, the painting depicts a woman lying in a wide, open field, gazing toward a distant gray house. This mysterious and emotional image is rooted in reality—its subject, Anna Christina Olson, suffered from a degenerative muscular disorder that left her unable to walk. Refusing to use a wheelchair, she would crawl across the fields around her home in Cushing, Maine, where Wyeth spent his summers.

Though Olson inspired the painting, Wyeth used...

Created in 1932, Girl Before a Mirror is one of Pablo Picasso’s most celebrated and enigmatic works. Painted during a pivotal year in his life, the portrait features his 22-year-old mistress and muse, Marie-Thérèse Walter. This intimate depiction shows Walter gazing into a mirror, where her reflection appears older and more somber—a stark contrast to her youthful, vibrant self. Picasso masterfully blends Cubism and Surrealism, using bold lines, vivid colors, and abstract forms to explore themes of duality, transformation, and mortality.

The painting reveals a deeply personal dimension of Picasso's life, created during his secret affair while still married to...

Edward Hopper was an American realist painter born in 1882 in Nyack, New York. He is best known for his evocative depictions of modern American life, often capturing moments of stillness, isolation, and quiet introspection. His paintings typically feature urban and rural scenes with strong contrasts of light and shadow, emphasizing mood over detail. One of his most famous works, Nighthawks, portrays people in a late-night diner, reflecting themes of loneliness and urban anonymity. Hopper's style is characterized by clear lines, simple forms, and a subdued color palette. Through his art, he conveyed a deep sense of atmosphere and emotion,...

Bridget Louise Riley is a British painter best known for her pioneering work in the Op Art movement. Born in 1931 in London, she became internationally recognized in the 1960s for her abstract, geometric paintings that create optical illusions and dynamic visual effects. Her early works were mainly in black and white, using precise patterns of lines and shapes to produce a sense of movement and vibration. Later, she began to explore color, using it in rhythmic and vibrant ways to enhance the visual impact of her compositions. Riley’s art is focused on the viewer’s experience, playing with perception and...