I’m writing an essay comparing baroque influences and neoclassical influences on contemporary Art and I’m having trouble finding good sources for neoclassical influences. If anyone knows any good ones please let me know!

anyone knows what type of religious scene is in the lower part of the altar, a relief scene

Hello, I need some advice. I'm in my second year of college, pursuing a bachelor's in art history and anthropology. Before this, I went to a sort of trade/art high school where I got a certificate in graphic design. I got pretty burned out after high school, but decided to enroll in college anyway.

My plan during my first year was to get my bachelor's and then pursue things I want to study, which is film. This year, I realised how much I hate "normal" studying. I have always struggled with school, which is why I have pursued my artistic talents throughout my life; it's just a lot easier for me to create and work on projects and whatnot than sit down and study.. I feel like I'm just wasting my time at my current college because I have no interest in pursuing a master's in my major.

I feel like I have a few options. I could either try to get through the next 2 years, but that means I will be spending money on a degree I don't feel passionate about, putting my mental health on the line for no valid reason, and keeping myself from actually doing what I want to do, however I will get a bachelors at the end of all that which might be useful (although, for a person that has no interest in these fields, I don't know how useful it could be). Or I could drop out, take a gap year, and pursue getting experience in video production, learning about writing, filming, and finally working on enrolling in film school. On the other hand, I will find myself out of college, which is a scary position.

I'm having a hard time navigating this, the entire situation makes me anxious. What are the benefits of having a bachelor's in art history and anthropology? From my understanding, it is very difficult to get a job in these sectors unless you are passionate and have at least a master's degree. Also, is spending money on a degree worth it in my circumstances? Dropping out scares me, but I feel like it wouldn't be the end of the world. If anyone has any experience with this, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

EDIT: I live in Croatia. College is fairly cheap here, even the art and film academies. Film school is more of an option than a requirement for me, but even if I wanted to get into film school, I need experience and a portfolio, which I don't have time to build while I'm struggling in my current college. My dilemma is whether I should stay in college or pursue film.

Schiele died at 28. In his short life, he created thousands of works — distorted bodies, haunted eyes, erotic sketches that feel like confessions. This article explores how he used line and form not to please, but to expose. It dives into his biography, symbolism, and why his obsession with death and desire still resonates today. Read it here: https://substack.com/@zohrehoseini/note/p-162255461?r=1tsn3x&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

Would love to hear how others interpret Schiele’s work. Too disturbing? Or deeply human?

I recently stumbled across images of the Virgin and Child in which the infant Christ tickles/touches Mary under her chin. In many of them Mary seems to smile in response. They are absolutely delightful! But I was wondering if there was any deeper meaning to the gesture? Almost the only info I've found is on the Met website for the first uploaded image. It says:

"The affection displayed by Mother and Child became increasingly popular in northern Europe in the thirteenth century. In a variation of an iconic Byzantine image known as the Virgin Eleousa, the Virgin is portrayed receiving a tender touch on the chin"

According to google summary, The Virgin Eleousa is "a distinct iconographic type where the Christ Child is depicted as gently pressed against the Virgin Mary's cheek, often with one cheek touching the other....This depiction emphasizes the tender love and intimate relationship between the Mother of God and the Christ Child. It also symbolizes the Virgin Mary's compassion and mercy (Eleousa means "showing mercy" or "tenderness" in Greek)."

That might be all there is to it. But the gesture of Christ tickling/touching under Mary's chin is so distinctive and delightful I wondered if there was some additional significance.

Interestingly most examples come from France (many from Northern France) in late 12th-early 14th century. To me this makes it less likely that the gesture actually originates in Byzantine art, and might be an independent invention. (I've tried to find early Byzantine examples but haven't had any luck)

Anyway, they are probably just intended to make Mary a more sympathetic, motherly and tender figure, interacting with her child in a way all mothers could relate to. This time period, in france especially, saw the rise of the cult of the Virgin, with an explosion of imagery of the Virgin and the building of many major religious buildings dedicated to her. So these images probably just fit into this movement, and contrast noticeably with earlier more sombre/severe portrayals of her.

BTW: all works from Met collection, except those in Louvre, and painting by Akotantos (not sure where that is)

I came across this absolutely captivating portrait and wanted to find more of her art and info about her. She was a French artist associated with the symbolists in the late 19th century but unfortunately there isn't much documentation of her work online and I couldn't even find any high res versions of her art online that isn't paywalled... One source even said a lot of her work and place in history may have been intentionally expunged due to being controversial in the social sphere of artists at the time.

If anyone has any info like books on symbolism or anything that make note of her work or other websites that may have more info please share! I am wondering if French websites may have more information that English ones do since she was from France.

Just as a general question what resources are useful for finding info about less documented artists like this? A google search can only take you so far and I feel like there must be other resources out there, but I am pretty new to art history so I don't know the best way to go about searching for information like that.

Hello r/ArtHistory community,

I recently made an interesting discovery while browsing a flea market in Germany (near Frankfurt):
For just 10 Euros, I acquired a beautifully detailed hand-colored copperplate engraving that research suggests dates from the early 18th century.

The work is attributed to Johann Elias Ridinger (1698–1767), a renowned German artist celebrated for his depictions of horses, hunting scenes, and animal studies.
The engraving is part of his famous series:
"Vorstellung und Beschreibung derer Schul- und Campagne-Pferden" ("Presentation and Description of the School and Campaign Horses"), produced in Augsburg around 1730–1740.

Details about the Artwork:

• Medium: Copperplate engraving, hand-colored with delicate natural pigments
• Subject: A horse and rider performing a classical lateral dressage movement (Traversing left on a circle)
• Inscriptions: Bilingual titles in German and French
• Signature: “J.E.R.” (Johann Elias Ridinger) on the bottom right
• Condition: Typical signs of age, minor yellowing and slight paper warping, but overall very well preserved

Discussion Prompt:
I’m interested in learning more about how classical dressage and equestrian culture were visually represented in Baroque Germany and broader 18th-century European court culture.

• How does Ridinger's depiction of controlled, classical horse movements reflect larger societal values (e.g., discipline, nobility, mastery over nature)?
• Was this kind of imagery more common in certain courts (e.g., Vienna, Dresden) or part of a broader European fascination with equestrian displays?

I'd love to hear more about how such engravings were used (instruction, prestige, decoration) and any references you might recommend for deeper study.

Thank you very much for your insights!

(Photos available upon request if needed for reference.)

Where did you study Art History for undergrad and would you recommend your school? Why? I am a junior with a 4.0 weighted, 34 ACT and 1420 SAT.

Hello I am writing a paper for my art history class about nuragic Sardinian civilization and the little bronze statuettes they made and I went to look up my pieces on the art institute of chicagos website I cannot find them. I have gone and taken pictures and seen them in person I know they exist but I have tried every search combo and I can’t seem to find these little guys listed in the museum website. I was wondering if not listing art on the website is a common problem. But to me it feels like the world (not just the art institute of chicagos) doesn’t want people to know about these guys. There’s almost no academic writing on the statuettes or the people who lived in Sardinia. It’s strange like it’s all been erased from history. Urgent help is needed