Featured Portfolios
Mesoamerican Art Gallery: Figurine Case Left
The figurines in this portfolio match the figurines in the case starting with the top row and going left to right, row by row. Peopling the Americas Until recently, it was taught that Christopher Columbus “discovered” the Americas. In these discovery stories, the land was a sparsely populated area, full of opportunity and waiting to be claimed. In reality, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean had been densely settled for over 3,000 years. Many people have heard of the Maya and Aztec, but not many have heard of the other cultural groups that thrived throughout the region. These figurines represent the diversity of peoples who lived robust lives on this land. They raised families, farmed, worshipped gods, recorded historic events, and traded goods. As you explore this gallery, think about these people and their lives--lives that were just as rich and nuanced as our own. The objects you see here might seem static, but centuries ago they were regularly used by these people. These objects, with their dynamic and rich life histories, allow us to celebrate the cultures and people who made and used them. As stated in the Marble Policy Disclaimer, we are continually researching our various collections, and improving their respective records. This ongoing work is important to us and we are actively updating research on the artworks you see here. We very much welcome your feedback and any questions or concerns you may want to share, please email your comments to .
Read more ›
Indigenous Art of the Americas – North America
Modern and Intersectional Indigenous peoples have been producing artwork throughout the Americas for thousands of years. Each artwork is a unique blend of influences from different artists and cultures. Artists come together and establish regional styles, which then continue to change over time. The resulting dynamic works are stories, ideas, and relationships made physical through the skill of the artists. This gallery is a celebration of these artists and their stories, honoring them as the inherently modern and intersectional figures they are. Too often, Indigenous artists' voices remain unheard, their stories told by others. In this space, you will find interviews and quotes so that you may hear from them directly. Throughout the gallery, groupings of artworks are centered on a contemporary artist working within a particular medium. Diverse examples of artwork in the same medium demonstrate how artists draw on these customary styles while simultaneously putting the styles into conversations with their other passions-whether haute couture or science fiction. Such artists demonstrate that, despite concerted efforts to eradicate Indigenous languages, art forms, and world views, their practices and beliefs are alive and well today due to the dedication and perseverance of Indigenous communities. Indigenous art is an act of perseverance. Indigenous art is intersectional. Indigenous art is modern. Indigenous art is.
Read more ›
European and American Art 1700-1900 – Revisiting History, Rediscovering Nature
Revisiting History, Rediscovering Nature The “old order” [ancien régime in France] that had ruled Europe and its colonies gave way to the new philosophies represented by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Edmund Burke, and Denis Diderot, culminating in ruptures marked by the American War of Independence in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789. The shift from agricultural to industrial economies, the emergence of representative democracies that transformed subjects into citizens, the rise of a powerful middle class, and the debut of the United States on the world stage in the 1800s had a noticeable impact on the art market. Interest in exploring and studying the past extended beyond classical antiquity and focused on themes and events that emphasized national histories. Landscape artists focused on local views rather than idealized scenes. A growing fascination with classifying information about nature and humankind’s place in it led to new disciplines, such as psychology and ethnography. In this gallery, you will see what French writer Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) called the “heroism of modern life.” He pointed out that audiences need not look to the past to find grace and beauty. It was right there among them--on the streets, in the factories and fields, in churches, and in the salons and boudoirs of their houses. What does it mean to be modern? The ruptures marked by the American War of Independence in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789 sent shockwaves through Europe that reverberated throughout the long nineteenth century (1789-1914). The shift from agricultural to industrial economies, the emergence of representative democracies that transformed subjects into citizens, the rise of an increasingly powerful middle class, and the debut of the United States on the world stage in the 1800s had a noticeable impact on the art market. What was deemed worthy of depicting in art, how it was used, and by whom, all expanded. Interest in exploring and studying the past extended beyond classical antiquity and focused on themes and events that emphasized national histories. Landscape artists focused on local views rather than idealized or imaginary scenes inspired by the Roman countryside. A growing fascination with gathering and classifying information about nature and humankind’s place in it led to new disciplines, such as psychology and ethnography. In this gallery, you will see what French writer Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) called the “heroism of modern life.” He pointed out that audiences need not look to the past to find grace and beauty. It was right there among them--on the streets, in the factories and fields, in churches, and in the salons and boudoirs of their houses.
Read more ›
