Art is culturally pervasive. Everywhere we go we see reflections of our times through the art around us. Art isn’t just for the art collectors, critics and historians–it is for everyone. 

There is no denying that one of our earthly delights is in seeing a famous piece of art and experiencing its greatness. Art influences our mind and spirit. It takes us places, makes us feel awe, makes us think–interacting with, and appreciating, fine art is fundamental to the human experience. Art transcends language, time and space. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the great painters throughout history and some of the most famous paintings in the world.

The Icons of the Western Painting Tradition

The great master painters are recognized as exceptional because they created work that is undeniably individual and unique and has stood the test of time. If we look at art over the decades we see that great artists break with the traditions of their predecessors and create a new movement. 

This could mean using a different kind of paint, a different technique, or illustrating a different perspective. This reminds us that art is fluid and changes with the times. Modern art will keep shifting based on cultural influences and new discoveries. 

Some of the great masters were recognized during their lifetime, others were only seen as brilliant after their death. Either way, the great ones are the ones that we are still talking about and whose work we still admire and appreciate.

The Masters of Western Painting

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso, the iconic Spanish artist, rose to fame thanks to his prolific and groundbreaking work. From the Blue Period that began in 1901 to the Rose Period, Cubism and later his work is seen with characteristics of Surrealism. He is one of the best-known figures in twentieth-century art due to his revolutionary artistic accomplishments. Some of his most known works include Les Desmoiselles d’Avignon, and Guernica which was inspired by the Spanish Civil War and originally commissioned by the Spanish government. 

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch painter from the 1880s, is regarded as one of the most profound post-impressionists with his beautiful swirling painting called the Starry Night. Van Gogh created over 35 self-portraits, his Self Portrait Without a Beard was one the world’s most expensive paintings at the time of its sale, fetching $71 million. 

Claude Monet

Claude Monet is considered one of the greatest French painters of all time. He is considered the founder of the impressionist painting movement in the 1900s. Looking at his work takes you to another world within your imagination. His most famous paintings are Water Lilies, Poppies, Woman with a Parasol and Impression, Sunrise. 

Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali was a Spanish painter who is deeply admired for his unique twist on art and painting. He had a theatrical personality with a penchant for the surreal and eccentric. He has deeply influenced many artists in the western art world. He poured his unconscious into his paintings, creating provocative art, such as paintings like The Persistence of Memory, which drove the surrealist movement. As early as 1922, he began a lifelong relationship with the Prado Museum. His work and life have always been seen as challenging and mind-bending. 

What are the Most Famous Paintings in the Western World? 

Among art critics, there is a broad consensus about the importance of some of the most famous paintings. These are the most well-recognized and talked about paintings in the Western world. Let’s take a closer look. 

Leonardo Da Vinci – Mona Lisa 

The Mona Lisa is perhaps the world’s most famous Italian oil painting. Also known as The Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, it was created by Da Vinci sometime between 1503 and 1519. The subtlety of the shading and the facial features continue to fascinate people worldwide. Da Vinci was part of the Renaissance art period, which had its focus on human beauty and nature. To this day, huge crowds gather at the Louvre trying to catch a glimpse of Mona Lisa’s smile. 

Johannes Vermeer – Girl with a Pearl Earring

Girl with a Pearl Earring is a Dutch masterpiece from 1665. It is a portrait that is timeless and very popular. Vermeer is famous for paintings that depict daily life in interior settings.  Remarkable for both their purity of light and for how they convey a sense of serenity. Vermeer was moved to create work with pensive images that also portrayed a sense of inner harmony.

Gustav Klimt – The Kiss

The Kiss was created in 1908 and is considered one of the best representations of the Symbolism movement. Its unique feature is that it incorporates gold leaf, silver and platinum with oil painting on canvas as part of Klimt’s Golden Period. This renowned Austrian’s primary subject was the female body. 

Rembrandt Van Rijn – Night Watch 

Rembrandt, Dutch painter circa 1600s is hugely regarded as the greatest artist of the Golden Age. One of his most famous paintings is Night Watch an oil painting from 1642. It is a group portrait of civic guardsmen and is praised even today for its dramatic use of light and shadow.

A prolific painter that favoured realism. 

Newport Brushstrokes – Art Makes Our Lives Better 

Art allows us to transcend the mundane and take a step back from reality for a moment. It can challenge our ideas, values and ways of thinking, allowing us to interact with the world differently. Ultimately, art has powerful transformative effects on both individuals and societies by creating emotional connections that reach far beyond the walls of a gallery or museum.

The Newport Brushstrokes marketplace provides professional services to artists and art lovers. It provides a venue where artists can sell their original work, as well as offering art lovers and collectors the opportunity to buy reproductions of famous paintings in the World Heritage Art Treasury (W.H.A.T.) collection. So, whether you’re interested in the classic works from the Masters or for something more abstract, you are sure to find something that appeals to you.