Painting as an art form has existed for an incredibly long time. In fact, the oldest paintings which we currently know about, date about 30000 years back, and were discovered in the Chauvet cave in France. The earliest drawing made by human hand, however, is believed to be as old as 73000 years.
Most of these first paintings were painted and engraved using black pigment and red ochre. They typically showcased animals and human figures, as well as abstract designs.
Since then, we have come a long way, and have been privileged with spectacular art pieces from artists the world over. The following are three classic works of art which are literally untouchable. Enjoy.
1. The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
The Mona Lisa is arguably the most famous painting in the world. The woman in the picture is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Gioconda. Francesco was a silk trader in Florence, Italy who insisted that his wife’s beauty should be captured by a painting.
In Italian, Mona is a contraction of ‘miadonna’ which means ‘my lady’ or ‘my woman.’ This is why the painting is called Mona Lisa, meaning “My Woman Lisa.”
This act of love, however, has not gone unappreciated, with the painting coming under attack multiple times.
2. The Scream by Edvard Munch
According to the Norwegian artist, ‘The Scream’ represents a particular event. Edvard recalls taking a stroll on a calm and serene day when the entire atmosphere suddenly changed. The sky became engulfed in bright red flames, which triggered a bout of anxiety in Edvard, and that is how The Scream came to be.
It is believed that what Edvard Munch witnessed was a volcanic eruption which was as far away as on the island of Krakatoa, in Indonesia!
3. The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
This is yet another painting which everyone knows about. For this painting, Leonardo drew his inspiration from the Bible in the Gospel of John, 13:21; the last supper.
It is a depiction of the last meal which Jesus got to share with his disciples before he was whisked away by the Romans and crucified. The Last Supper painting is exceptionally detailed, with Leonardo going on record to state that it took about three years to complete it.
Nonetheless, the graveness of the story behind this painting hasn’t stopped modern artists from making light of the situation to represent modern-day challenges. The world could always use a good laugh, right?
These classic works of art have been tested by terrible environments, bad weather, and wars, but still endure for our fascination. Are you hoping to see them? Chances are you have to plan for months in advance. But it will be worth the wait.