H.B. Cavalcanti
@hbcf.bsky.social
Professor emeritus, writer, art lover
No one etched rain quite as skillfully as Kawase Hasui. His rainy landscapes are exquisite…
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
January 28, 2026 at 1:51 PM
No one etched rain quite as skillfully as Kawase Hasui. His rainy landscapes are exquisite…
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
Maxence specialized in medieval and mythical subjects that brought him recognition as a French symbolist painter…
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
January 27, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Maxence specialized in medieval and mythical subjects that brought him recognition as a French symbolist painter…
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
January 26, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
In 1918 a German painter immigrated to Santa Fe, and spent the rest of his life documenting the beauty of the Southwest…
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
January 25, 2026 at 4:07 PM
In 1918 a German painter immigrated to Santa Fe, and spent the rest of his life documenting the beauty of the Southwest…
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
Chase worked in all media. He was most fluent in oil painting and pastel, but also created watercolor paintings and etchings…
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
January 24, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Chase worked in all media. He was most fluent in oil painting and pastel, but also created watercolor paintings and etchings…
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
The Moche culture artists were remarkable for their sculptural naturalism. The culture flourished on the north coast of Peru between 100 BCE and 500 CE…
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
January 23, 2026 at 2:16 PM
The Moche culture artists were remarkable for their sculptural naturalism. The culture flourished on the north coast of Peru between 100 BCE and 500 CE…
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
January 22, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
This work offers a glimpse of the estrados – the private drawing rooms for elite women in Spain and Spanish Americas...
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
January 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM
This work offers a glimpse of the estrados – the private drawing rooms for elite women in Spain and Spanish Americas...
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
An exhibition of rare Homer’s watercolors at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston closed this week…
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
January 20, 2026 at 2:05 PM
An exhibition of rare Homer’s watercolors at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston closed this week…
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
Somalia-born, Kenya-raised, and NY-based Uman is exhibiting her work at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Here is one of her creations…
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
January 19, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Somalia-born, Kenya-raised, and NY-based Uman is exhibiting her work at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Here is one of her creations…
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
This work is in the “Korean Treasures” exhibition at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC…
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
January 18, 2026 at 1:51 PM
This work is in the “Korean Treasures” exhibition at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC…
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
It's a gift to capture the magical in daily life. Here, Ring creates a calm morning mood as his wife enjoys a quiet breakfast…
(photo: Laurits Andersen Ring, “At breakfast,” 1898, oil on canvas, in the Nationalmuseum of Sweden collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La...)
(photo: Laurits Andersen Ring, “At breakfast,” 1898, oil on canvas, in the Nationalmuseum of Sweden collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La...)
January 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM
It's a gift to capture the magical in daily life. Here, Ring creates a calm morning mood as his wife enjoys a quiet breakfast…
(photo: Laurits Andersen Ring, “At breakfast,” 1898, oil on canvas, in the Nationalmuseum of Sweden collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La...)
(photo: Laurits Andersen Ring, “At breakfast,” 1898, oil on canvas, in the Nationalmuseum of Sweden collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La...)
A WPA alum, Jansen painted murals in Key West, FL, Reedsburg, WI, and Sauk Centre, MN before entering the field of advertising illustrations…
(photo: Richard H. Jansen, “East Side Street in Winter,” n.d. gouache sheet, in the Milwaukee Art Museum collection; www.facebook.com/milwaukeeart...)
(photo: Richard H. Jansen, “East Side Street in Winter,” n.d. gouache sheet, in the Milwaukee Art Museum collection; www.facebook.com/milwaukeeart...)
January 16, 2026 at 1:53 PM
A WPA alum, Jansen painted murals in Key West, FL, Reedsburg, WI, and Sauk Centre, MN before entering the field of advertising illustrations…
(photo: Richard H. Jansen, “East Side Street in Winter,” n.d. gouache sheet, in the Milwaukee Art Museum collection; www.facebook.com/milwaukeeart...)
(photo: Richard H. Jansen, “East Side Street in Winter,” n.d. gouache sheet, in the Milwaukee Art Museum collection; www.facebook.com/milwaukeeart...)
The San Diego Museum of Art is hosting the “Impressionism Across the Atlantic” exhibition until April 5, 2026. I’m so glad this work by Monet is included in it…
(photo: Claude Monet, “Museum at Le Havre,” 1873, oil on canvas; www.facebook.com/groups/CLAUD...)
(photo: Claude Monet, “Museum at Le Havre,” 1873, oil on canvas; www.facebook.com/groups/CLAUD...)
January 15, 2026 at 1:37 PM
The San Diego Museum of Art is hosting the “Impressionism Across the Atlantic” exhibition until April 5, 2026. I’m so glad this work by Monet is included in it…
(photo: Claude Monet, “Museum at Le Havre,” 1873, oil on canvas; www.facebook.com/groups/CLAUD...)
(photo: Claude Monet, “Museum at Le Havre,” 1873, oil on canvas; www.facebook.com/groups/CLAUD...)
Known for his constant exploration in art, Harris was deeply interested in developments in modern art. That comes across in this artwork…
(photo: Lawren S. Harris, “Snow II,” 1915, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery of Canada collection in Ottawa; www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exh...)
(photo: Lawren S. Harris, “Snow II,” 1915, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery of Canada collection in Ottawa; www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exh...)
January 14, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Known for his constant exploration in art, Harris was deeply interested in developments in modern art. That comes across in this artwork…
(photo: Lawren S. Harris, “Snow II,” 1915, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery of Canada collection in Ottawa; www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exh...)
(photo: Lawren S. Harris, “Snow II,” 1915, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery of Canada collection in Ottawa; www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exh...)
“We all know… what hard work is required and how much effort lurks behind the appearance of effortlessness.” Patrick Bringley, All The Beautiful in the World book, 2023
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Wheat Field with Cypresses,” 1889; www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Wheat Field with Cypresses,” 1889; www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
January 13, 2026 at 2:03 PM
“We all know… what hard work is required and how much effort lurks behind the appearance of effortlessness.” Patrick Bringley, All The Beautiful in the World book, 2023
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Wheat Field with Cypresses,” 1889; www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Wheat Field with Cypresses,” 1889; www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...)
The Denver Art Museum is offering the first major U.S. retrospective of Pissarro's work in 40 years. Here’s a sample of what's on view…
(photo: Camille Pissarro, “The Garden of Les Mathurins at Pontoise,” 1876, in the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection; nelson-atkins.org/fpc/impressi...)
(photo: Camille Pissarro, “The Garden of Les Mathurins at Pontoise,” 1876, in the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection; nelson-atkins.org/fpc/impressi...)
January 12, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The Denver Art Museum is offering the first major U.S. retrospective of Pissarro's work in 40 years. Here’s a sample of what's on view…
(photo: Camille Pissarro, “The Garden of Les Mathurins at Pontoise,” 1876, in the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection; nelson-atkins.org/fpc/impressi...)
(photo: Camille Pissarro, “The Garden of Les Mathurins at Pontoise,” 1876, in the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art collection; nelson-atkins.org/fpc/impressi...)
At the San Antonio Museum of Art exhibition, “Canvas to Clay,” with Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and Mata Ortiz vases…
(photo: Unknown artist, “Jar,” Tonalá, Mexico, ca. 1925, painted and burnished ceramic, in the San Antonio Museum of Art collection; texaslifestylemag.com/entertainmen...)
(photo: Unknown artist, “Jar,” Tonalá, Mexico, ca. 1925, painted and burnished ceramic, in the San Antonio Museum of Art collection; texaslifestylemag.com/entertainmen...)
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
At the San Antonio Museum of Art exhibition, “Canvas to Clay,” with Georgia O’Keeffe paintings and Mata Ortiz vases…
(photo: Unknown artist, “Jar,” Tonalá, Mexico, ca. 1925, painted and burnished ceramic, in the San Antonio Museum of Art collection; texaslifestylemag.com/entertainmen...)
(photo: Unknown artist, “Jar,” Tonalá, Mexico, ca. 1925, painted and burnished ceramic, in the San Antonio Museum of Art collection; texaslifestylemag.com/entertainmen...)
The “Threads” exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum is closing today. Nine women who work as artists, mothers, and art teachers. Here’s one of their works…
(photo: Monica Thompson, “The Great the Whole,” 2023, in the Yellowstone Art Museum collection; www.artmuseum.org/project/thre...)
(photo: Monica Thompson, “The Great the Whole,” 2023, in the Yellowstone Art Museum collection; www.artmuseum.org/project/thre...)
January 10, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The “Threads” exhibition at the Yellowstone Art Museum is closing today. Nine women who work as artists, mothers, and art teachers. Here’s one of their works…
(photo: Monica Thompson, “The Great the Whole,” 2023, in the Yellowstone Art Museum collection; www.artmuseum.org/project/thre...)
(photo: Monica Thompson, “The Great the Whole,” 2023, in the Yellowstone Art Museum collection; www.artmuseum.org/project/thre...)
The Blanton Museum in Austin is exhibiting Nguyen's works starting Jan. 2026…
(photo: Tammy Nguyen, “If Ignorance is Good, Madness is Better,” 2025, Watercolor, vinyl paint, pastel, and silkscreen printing on paper stretched over wood; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/t...)
(photo: Tammy Nguyen, “If Ignorance is Good, Madness is Better,” 2025, Watercolor, vinyl paint, pastel, and silkscreen printing on paper stretched over wood; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/t...)
January 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM
The Blanton Museum in Austin is exhibiting Nguyen's works starting Jan. 2026…
(photo: Tammy Nguyen, “If Ignorance is Good, Madness is Better,” 2025, Watercolor, vinyl paint, pastel, and silkscreen printing on paper stretched over wood; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/t...)
(photo: Tammy Nguyen, “If Ignorance is Good, Madness is Better,” 2025, Watercolor, vinyl paint, pastel, and silkscreen printing on paper stretched over wood; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/t...)
“Admire more, most people don’t admire enough.” Vincent van Gogh
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Irises,” 1889, oil on canvas, in the Getty Center collection;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ir...)
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Irises,” 1889, oil on canvas, in the Getty Center collection;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ir...)
January 8, 2026 at 3:51 PM
“Admire more, most people don’t admire enough.” Vincent van Gogh
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Irises,” 1889, oil on canvas, in the Getty Center collection;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ir...)
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Irises,” 1889, oil on canvas, in the Getty Center collection;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ir...)
This work is the centerpiece of the Portland Art Museum’s “Mystic Mountain: Mount Hood in Art” exhibition. Multiple artists were inspired by it…
(photo: Albert Bierstadt, “Mount Hood,” 1869, oil on canvas, in the Portland Art Museum collection;
portlandartmuseum.org/event/mystic...)
(photo: Albert Bierstadt, “Mount Hood,” 1869, oil on canvas, in the Portland Art Museum collection;
portlandartmuseum.org/event/mystic...)
January 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM
This work is the centerpiece of the Portland Art Museum’s “Mystic Mountain: Mount Hood in Art” exhibition. Multiple artists were inspired by it…
(photo: Albert Bierstadt, “Mount Hood,” 1869, oil on canvas, in the Portland Art Museum collection;
portlandartmuseum.org/event/mystic...)
(photo: Albert Bierstadt, “Mount Hood,” 1869, oil on canvas, in the Portland Art Museum collection;
portlandartmuseum.org/event/mystic...)
Art was not how he made a living, yet he was an accomplished painter; one drawn to dramatic natural landscapes…
(photo: Adalbert Stifter, Lake Königssee, 1837, oil on canvas, in the Belvedere Gallery collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ad...)
(photo: Adalbert Stifter, Lake Königssee, 1837, oil on canvas, in the Belvedere Gallery collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ad...)
January 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Art was not how he made a living, yet he was an accomplished painter; one drawn to dramatic natural landscapes…
(photo: Adalbert Stifter, Lake Königssee, 1837, oil on canvas, in the Belvedere Gallery collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ad...)
(photo: Adalbert Stifter, Lake Königssee, 1837, oil on canvas, in the Belvedere Gallery collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ad...)
This Grandma Moses’ painting will be on display in 2026, as part of the Crystal Bridges Museum celebration of its 15th anniversary…
(photo: Grandma Moses, “It Snows, Oh It Snows,” 1951, oil on pressed wood, in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art collection; themomentary.org/crystal-brid...)
(photo: Grandma Moses, “It Snows, Oh It Snows,” 1951, oil on pressed wood, in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art collection; themomentary.org/crystal-brid...)
January 5, 2026 at 3:37 PM
This Grandma Moses’ painting will be on display in 2026, as part of the Crystal Bridges Museum celebration of its 15th anniversary…
(photo: Grandma Moses, “It Snows, Oh It Snows,” 1951, oil on pressed wood, in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art collection; themomentary.org/crystal-brid...)
(photo: Grandma Moses, “It Snows, Oh It Snows,” 1951, oil on pressed wood, in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art collection; themomentary.org/crystal-brid...)
The Minneapolis Institute of Art’s José María Velasco exhibition closes today. Velasco is one of Mexico outstanding painters…
(photo: José María Velasco, “The Valley of Mexico from the Hill of Santa Isabel,” 1877, in the Museo Nacional de Arte collection in Mexico; new.artsmia.org/exhibition/j...)
(photo: José María Velasco, “The Valley of Mexico from the Hill of Santa Isabel,” 1877, in the Museo Nacional de Arte collection in Mexico; new.artsmia.org/exhibition/j...)
January 4, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The Minneapolis Institute of Art’s José María Velasco exhibition closes today. Velasco is one of Mexico outstanding painters…
(photo: José María Velasco, “The Valley of Mexico from the Hill of Santa Isabel,” 1877, in the Museo Nacional de Arte collection in Mexico; new.artsmia.org/exhibition/j...)
(photo: José María Velasco, “The Valley of Mexico from the Hill of Santa Isabel,” 1877, in the Museo Nacional de Arte collection in Mexico; new.artsmia.org/exhibition/j...)