Influencing the Impressionists: Hokusai’s Great Wave
Before Monet painted water lilies or Degas sketched ballerinas, a wave was crashing in from the East. In this episode, we explore how Japanese woodblock prints—especially Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’—reshaped the way Western artists thought about space, subject, and form. From flattened perspective to everyday scenes, ukiyo-e wasn’t just decorative—it was revolutionary.
We’ll unpack the rise of Japonisme, its deep (and sometimes uneasy) influence on Impressionism, and how one iconic wave helped turn the tide of art history.
Today’s image: Katsushika Hokusai, ‘Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura),’ (1830-32). Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast | @matta_of_fact
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42:46
Mme. Tussaud, Witness to the Revolution (with Gavin Whitehead)
In this special episode, the host and producer of The Art of Crime, Gavin Whitehead, joins us to explore the fascinating life of Madame Tussaud.
Known for founding the world-renowned wax museum, Tussaud’s story intersects with the dramatic history of the French Revolution, art, and even true crime.
Tune in for a captivating discussion on how Tussaud’s legacy continues to captivate audiences today, and for more, be sure to check out The Art of Crime wherever you get your podcasts!
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast | @matta_of_fact
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1:20:59
Lucrezia Borgia: Art, Power, and Legacy
In 1501, Lucrezia Borgia—daughter of the infamous Pope Alexander VI—briefly ruled the Vatican in his absence, a moment as shocking then as it is now. But how did she gain this rare position of power? And how does Frank Cadogan Cowper’s striking Pre-Raphaelite painting mirror our cultural perception of her?
Unravel the myths surrounding Lucrezia Borgia, explore the evolution of women’s roles in the Catholic Church, and examine how history, scandal, and art collide in depicting one of the Renaissance’s most enigmatic women.
Today's Image: Frank Cadogan Cowper, 'Lucretia Borgia Reigns in the Vatican in the Absence of Pope Alexander VI' (c. 1910). Oil on canvas. Tate Britain, London.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast | @matta_of_fact
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1:24:54
The Fall of Icarus: A Myth Reframed
Pieter Bruegel the Elder's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus reimagines Ovid's Metamorphoses, transforming the myth of Icarus into a meditation on human indifference and folly. This episode unpacks how Bruegel intertwines visual storytelling with contemporary Dutch and Flemish proverbs, reframing Icarus’ tragic fall as a subtle commentary on the world’s disregard for individual suffering.
Today’s artwork: Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (c. 1560). Oil on canvas. Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast | @matta_of_fact
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Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
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1:15:18
Art Bite: Queen or Cake?
Inspired by The Rainbow Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I at Hatfield Park, an extravagant cake was recently unveiled by Emma Jayne Cake Design, for Cake International 2024. Learn the secrets of this enthralling portrait and its cake twin on today's art bite!
Today's works:
Emma Jayne Cake Design, "Elizabeth I" and Unknown Artist, Rainbow Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I (c. 1600-1603). Hatfield House, United Kingdom.
Episodes from history, viewed through great works of art. No pre-reqs required! New episodes every month. Hosted by Amanda Matta, art historian and TikTok's favorite royal commentator.
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