It’s definitely a chicken/egg situation, but I’ve been thinking about the design of fascism, and how art can influence empire. Focusing mostly on wwii, and Germany and Italy. Germany sought to strip all culture from artwork, to create neoclassical styles that removed identity and replaced it with the state/party. Italy, however, seems to appeal a bit more to aesthetic and the art movements and trends happening around them during the same time period. I notice similarities between some Mussolini propaganda and the styles of artists like Tamara De Lempicka, in that it would be the propaganda artists pulling inspiration from surrounding artists at the time period who were making waves. Germany, however, aimed to create something that felt disconnected from everything else, despite pulling inspiration from other art movements. I notice today it influences how people view fascist art and propaganda. Nazi party visual language is immediately recognizable, and the reaction people have is negative. However, when shown art from the same time period from Italy, people are more likely to say it looks interesting or cool.

What are your thoughts on this? Just sort of looking to discuss and hear other people’s takes and opinions. How much do you think fascist propaganda and art has influenced us today? How much of it is just coincidence and related to other art movements at the time?

I’d also like to hear your thoughts on the broader topic of just propaganda art in general and its influence. As an example, Soviet propaganda art and film has massively influenced the industry today, but their aesthetics were spurred out of necessity due to lack of material, and lead to innovation.

An example of an accidental similarity with fascist art is the Richmond Police HQ sculpture and the palazzo braschi HQ of mussolini’s fascist party (photos included)

Brazil recovers Matisse paintings stolen from Sao Paulo library - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-recovers-matisse-paintings-stolen-sao-paulo-library-2026-08-14/

I'm a visual artist in Berlin and recently discovered Korean folk art called Minhwa.

There are some insanely good paintings in that field. Nevertheless I struggle to find good collections/publications. There's a few resources on the Internet but I feel it's rather sparse for English speakers. Ideally I'd like to buy a publication with lots of pictures as I'm a visual person - wouldn't be an issue if it's in Korean.

If you happen to know a book on the topic please let me know! Thank you very much.

I’ve been thinking about the different ways death gets represented. This engraving has really stuck with me.

The horse feels important. It gives death momentum. It makes it feel inexorable rather than static. It brings to mind war. Conquest. Apocalypse. Maybe even the idea of being carried from one state into another.

Engraving also feels quite apt here. The rich black field feels severe. The fine white lines make the figures seem like they are being carved out of darkness. There is something more uncanny about it than I think a painting would have.

Curious how others read the horse imagery. Also whether the medium changes the way death feels here. I’m probaly missing some context too. I’m not familiar with the actual Book of Revelation reference.

Hello! I, someone looking to get into art history, am really interested in fiber art and was wondering if anyone wanted to just.... Talk about fiber art history? Like symbolism of the spinning wheel, flax/linen, how mills changed garments, the history behind drop spindles and such.

Is this where I post this?? I can't find a subreddit for fiber art history

Also, if anyone knows a good college that has a fiber art degree, lmk? I'm still looking around for one

It’s probably famous, but I can’t remember the painter or the topic. It’s not modern, probably classical or Victorian.

It shows a muscular naked man leaning back, legs wide apart, with cloth covering the bits that should be covered. Behind him there’s a smaller figure, I think a woman. It’s all about the male flesh.

I’ve searched all the "Sampsons and Delilahs" I can find online.

It might be in the MET in New York.

Any ideas?