Paintings continue to fascinate people even today, as they provide a unique sensory experience. These works of art engages one’s imagination, emotions, and intellect. They capture moments in time, convey personal or social messages, and evoke feelings and thoughts resonating with the viewer.
Paintings are also a tangible and visual representation of the artist’s creative expression, cultural context, and historical significance. An art lover can interpret and appreciate it from different perspectives, making them a continuous source of inspiration, learning, and reflection.
Such artworks can transcend time and space as well, connecting people across cultures, generations, and boundaries. Here, we present some of the famous paintings that came from the renowned artists:
1. Blue Poles
Created by the renowned American artist, Jackson Pollock, Blue Poles is a brilliant work of abstract expressionism. It had the title ‘Number 11’ in 1952, but later became ‘Blue Poles’ in 1954. This work of abstract expressionism consists of long, thin drips of paint on a large canvas.
The painting is currently in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. It is a masterpiece of the abstract expressionist movement in art and among Pollock’s most famous works.
2. Marilyn Monroe
Andy Warhol came up with this timeless masterpiece in 1962. Marilyn Monroe is a series of silkscreen prints based on a publicity photograph of the world-famous actress. One can see the repetition of 50 images of Marilyn Monroe in different colors and compositions. The Marilyn Monroe series is one of Warhol’s most noted works. Many consider it as a monumental symbol of the pop art movement.
3. No. 6 (Violet, Green, and Red)
In 2014, No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) became one of the most expensive paintings to be sold at an auction. It was the creation of Mark Rothko, an abstract expressionist artist, who painted it in 1951. It consists of large, rectangular fields of color on a canvas. The painting was privately bought for €140 million by the Russian oligarch, Dmitry Rybolovlev.
4. Homage to the Square
Homage to the Square is a series of paintings by German artist and educator, Josef Albers. These paintings consist of squares of different colors arranged in a series of nested squares. The series explores the relationships between color, form, and perception. Homage to the Square is one of the landmarks in the development of abstract art. It has also influenced several generations of abstract artists.
5. Nighthawks
Nighthawks is a painting by the American realist painter, Edward Hopper. The painting was created in 1942 using oil on canvas. It depicts four individuals in a diner late at night. They include the diner’s patrons and a waiter. The painting is popular for its stark realism, mute colors, and ambiguous narrative.
Nighthawks is among Edward Hopper’s best-known works. It was sold to the Art Institute of Chicago within months of its completion for $3,000.
6. A Bigger Splash
A creation of the British artist, David Hockney, this pop art painting was created in California in 1967. It depicts a swimming pool, with a large splash of water disturbing its calm. A Bigger Splash dates back to the time of Hockney’s days as a teacher at the University of California, Berkeley.
It is famous for its bright colors, flat perspective, and playful composition. The painting was created with acrylic Liquitex as a medium on a white cotton duck canvas.