Painting has acted as a creative outlet for individuals since the prehistoric era, allowing us to share our history as well as express ourselves and our emotions. Without this art form, we would have little knowledge of our past, and we would also be less connected to each other and the world around us. With this being said, here is a look at a few of my favorite paintings.

Claude Monet is an artist that I have admired for many years now. His work provides a welcoming, comforting aura and displays beautiful themes of nature. One painting, in particular, Irises in Monet’s Garden, made in 1900, is very close to my heart. His usage of color and depth gives the artwork a personal touch, while also making it eye-catching and unique. This piece is guaranteed to make anyone who sees it fall in love.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is another artist whose work I adore. His art explores human nature and the human experience, with my most-loved piece being The Bed, created in 1892. This painting depicts two women sharing a bed, gazing at each other lovingly. While homosexuality was frowned upon during this period of time , Toulouse-Lautrec remained a defender of gay rights and portrayed same-sex love beautifully. Being part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I find this painting to be both touching and heartwarming.

Van Gogh is an artist that is appreciated by many, including myself. While his most famous piece may be Starry Night, my personal favorite is The Bedroom, made in 1888. This was a painting that was made of the bedroom Gogh stayed in while he was in Arles, France. The bright, colorful hues and imperfect perspective of the piece make it very eye-catching and interesting. He made several different versions of this painting and I love them all dearly.

Frida Khalo is a Mexican painter known for her portraits, works of nature, and more. The Two Fridas, made in 1939, is one of her self-portraits that I have been enamored with for quite a while now. This painting shows the two different personalities of Khalo, while also resembling the loneliness and despair she felt after her divorce. I love how this art portrays human emotion and heartbreak, while also giving us a deeper insight into who Frida was.

Overall, these are a few examples of my favorite paintings and what they mean to me. Art has always been something that I enjoy and cherish deeply, and I recommend for everyone to go out and find artwork that is special and personal to them. You never know the impact that could be made by what you have created, or how many lives you could change.