Arts & Culture
Why Babies in Medieval Paintings Look So Weird
27
Article
Spend any time gazing at medieval European paintings, and one question tends to emerge: What is going on with those babies? Far from the sweet, chubby cherubs we might expect to see, these infants often resemble balding middle-aged men, complete with wrinkled foreheads and dour expressions. What could possibly explain this bizarre artistic choice? To understand, we have to dive into how European art — and the perception of children — evolved from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Credit: DEA / G. NIMATALLAH/ De Agostini via Getty Images Religion Influenced Art The unsettling “man-baby” ...Read More
-
Arts & CultureArticle3We Tried To Write an Entire Article in Middle English
When William of Normandy invaded England in 1066, it began a transformation of the Old English language. The Norman conquerors replaced the Anglo-Saxon ruling class, bringing with them their Anglo-Norman…
-
Arts & CultureArticle3Why Do We Have Summer Vacation?
Summer vacation has been an integral part of American family life for more than a hundred years. This season of leisure is primarily due to one thing: School’s out. But…
-
Arts & CultureArticle8Why Do We Call It “History”?
The modern English word “history” comes partly from the Latin historia and partly from the French storie (or estoire), but those terms both trace their roots back to the same…
-
Arts & CultureFact3Theaters used to hire audience members to clap, laugh, and cry.
A public performance can be stressful for the actor, singer, or orator tasked with delivering the goods, not to mention the behind-the-scenes author of the creative endeavor. So it should…
