The skull is a universal symbol of mortality, appearing in artworks by everyone from Hans Holbein the Younger and Albrecht Dürer to Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Laura C. Mallonee
Laura C. Mallonee is a Brooklyn-based writer. She holds an M.A. in Cultural Reporting and Criticism from NYU and a B.F.A. in painting from Missouri State University. She enjoys exploring new cities and loitering in her community bookstore.
Posted inIn Brief
Oh Shit! British Royal Collection Finds Pooper Hidden in 17th-Century Painting
It turns out that Isack van Ostade’s “A Village Fair With a Church Behind” (1643) — as the painting was perhaps cheekily titled — shows a man with his pants down relieving himself in the middle of a busy street.
Posted inIn Brief
A Reason to Headbang: Finland Makes National Emojis
The country has developed more than 30 emojis that function as advertisements for all the things that make Finland unique.
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Here Comes the Sun in NASA’s New Mind-Blowing Footage
Now, thanks to NASA, you can stare at the sun for as long as you like.
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British Museum Will Train Iraqis in Rescue Archaeology
There’s nothing like watching ISIS blow up the ancient city of Nineveh to make archaeologists, conservationists, and historians feel helpless.
Posted inIn Brief
Rejoice! The Red (Paint) Scare Is Over in Europe
Artists and paintmakers can breathe a little easier now that the European Union has officially thrown out Sweden’s baffling proposal to ban cadmium pigment from paint.
Posted inNews
Major Russian Gallery Forced to Close After Supporting Political Prisoners
A legendary Russian gallery is being evicted after holding a charity event supporting political prisoners.
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Study Finds ISIS Militants Aren’t the Only Ones Looting Syrian Archaeological Sites
ISIS’s systematic looting in Syria has captured the world’s attention, but a new study shows they’re not the only ones selling off the country’s cultural heritage.
Posted inIn Brief
A Land Art Memorial 30 Years in the Making Opens in Italy
After three decades of construction, Alberto Burri’s monumental land art installation “Grande Cretto” has finally opened to the public, The Art Newspaper reports.
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1930s Slave Murals in Alabama Could Be Removed After Petition Gains Steam
Imagine walking into a courthouse for jury duty and finding yourself surrounded by scenes depicting your enslaved ancestors. That’s what many black people in Jefferson County, Alabama, have been experiencing for the past eight decades.
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Turkish Officials Discover Locals Dumping Trash in 2,400-Year-Old Tombs
Turkish officials recently discovered that locals in the town of Fethiye were using ancient tombs as storage units.
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Cartoonist Pronounced Dead, Believed Murdered by Syrian Regime
According to Souriatnapress, Akram Raslan died in the spring of 2013 while in the custody of the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
