Motifs
Browse by Motif
Browse paintings by what they show. Each motif gathers the works across five centuries that share a subject, from ships and gardens to vanitas skulls and self-portraits.
PortraitThe portrait is the oldest reason to keep a painting.6,464 worksThe Human FigureThe human body is the measure painting keeps returning to.6,168 worksTreesA tree gives the landscape painter a problem in structure and light: trunk, limb, and a canopy that must read as foliage without being painted leaf by leaf.3,179 worksFlowersCut flowers brought colour and brevity indoors.1,724 worksChildren & YouthChildren entered painting slowly, first as small adults at the edge of religious scenes, then as subjects worth a canvas of their own.1,526 worksLandscapeLandscape took centuries to graduate from backdrop to subject.1,479 worksShips & BoatsMarine painting put the working sea on the wall.1,368 worksArchitecture & BuildingsBuildings give a painting its bones and its perspective.1,236 works
More motifs
- Mountain Landscape1,050 works
- Sky & Weather826 works
- Horses769 works
- Costume & Fashion681 works
- Furniture & Household Objects667 works
- Birds661 works
- Rivers & Lakes657 works
- Dogs647 works
- Reading & Writing586 works
- Devotional Objects & Symbols564 works
- Cattle & Livestock498 works
- Bridges & Roads488 works
- Arms & Armour469 works
- Abstract & Non-Representational438 works
- Angels & Heavenly Beings428 works
- Dance & Performance405 works
- Plants & Foliage382 works
- Wild Mammals347 works
- Fruit & Harvest340 works
- Still Life339 works
- Floral Still Life332 works
- Textiles & Lace325 works
- Faces & Features292 works
- Forest & Woodland269 works
- Calligraphy & Inscription268 works
- Sea & Coast252 works
- The Nude250 works
- Mother & Child223 works
- Soldiers & Warriors212 works
- Snow & Winter198 works
- Music & Musicians196 works
- Beauties & Figures (Asian)195 works
- Cityscape & Street176 works
- Interior Scene175 works
- Garden & Park152 works
- Church & Sacred Interior142 works
- Fish & Sea Creatures124 works
- Vanitas & Mortality124 works
- Group & Family Portrait122 works
- Genre Scene118 works
- Heraldry & Emblems109 works
- Ruins103 works
- Harbour & Port93 works
- Cats90 works
- Palace & Castle87 works
- Cottage & Farm79 works
- Mythical Creatures68 works
- Self-Portrait64 works
- Allegory & Personification40 works
