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Although thinking about art as a factual entity might seem a bit odd at first (you know, based on the notion that art is all about emotions and feelings), you would be surprised how many fun facts about art there really are. So many that we’ve filled a whole list with facts about art so you can entertain your friends at the most unexpected times with them. Or, you can also dish out these interesting facts about art at any old gallery opening when there’s nothing else to talk about. 

Anyway, these interesting facts will absolutely give you pieces of information you’ve never heard before and, at the same time, will entertain you like nothing else before. Here’s a snippet of what to expect from these amusing art facts. Did you know that the Mona Lisa is so popular among her fans that she (well, not she, exactly, but the painting) has her own mailbox for fan letters at the Louvre? Neither did we, but now we are so tempted to write to her and see if we get a reply! Or did you know that the color wheel existed way before the United States did? Now there’s a piece of useless information we will absolutely remember for the rest of our lives! 

Now that you got the gist that these cool facts about art will absolutely be worthy of your attention and time, it is our cue to urge you to scroll on down and check them out. Once you are there, rank the fun facts since now they are in no particular order. And lastly, if you feel the need to share this article with your friends, do not hesitate to do so! 

#1

Bob Ross Once Helped A Color-Blind Viewer By Spending An Entire Episode Painting In Only In Grey

Bob Ross in pink shirt holds a palette and paints a picture in gray

youtube.com Report

#2

There Are Two Starry Nights By Van Gogh

The Starry Night Over The Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh, 1888

vincentvangogh.org , Wikimedia Commons Report

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CT
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Commonly known as Starry Night Over the Rhône. This is my favourite. I've had it on poster in front of my bed for many years

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#4

Leonardo Da Vinci Was A 15th Century Animal Rights Activist And Vegetarian

Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (from Characaturas by Leonardo da Vinci, from Drawings by Wincelslaus Hollar, out of the Portland Museum)

humanedecisions.com , Wikimedia Commons Report

#5

91% Of Americans Believe That A Well-Rounded Education Must Include The Arts

Woman teacher walks between children while they sit near their easels and paint in art class

ipsos.com Report

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Tamra
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet, art is the least funded part of the curriculum in public schools, and the first to be cut.

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Bored Panda got in touch with Skaistė Kirslys, painter and illustrator from Klaipėda, Lithuania to talk about art and what it’s all about these days. Among many things, Skaistė focuses her talents on delicately intricate watercolor illustrations of natural landscapes with occasional ventures into urban scenery. Or a mix of both.

The beauty of visual art is the idea that, in its core, it was always the same. Only the form of delivery differed. “I think that the purpose of visual art has not changed as time went on. It has always been relevant because it conveyed a message that represented everything that really mattered in its respective time,” elaborated Skaistė.

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#7

Roman Sculptures Were Designed With Removable Heads So That One Head Could Be Swapped Out For Another

Photograph of statue of St. Peter by Giuseppe De Fabris, 1840

isequalto.com , www.pexels.com Report

#8

Leonardo Da Vinci Was Ambidextrous - Able To Write With One Hand While Simultaneously Drawing With The Other

Young man sits and draws on white paper

artsy.net , www.pexels.com Report

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#9

Recent Discovery Made In Spain Found That The Oldest Paintings Discovered To Date, Made By Humans, Were Made More Than 42,000 Years Ago

Photograph of hunting scene drawings at the Cuevas de las Manos in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina

lobopopart.com.br , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Steve Robert
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A prehistoric parent said Yeah my kid drew that even though I told him no painting on the walls

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#10

Van Gogh Captured His Perspective From An Asylum In The Starry Night

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, 1889

moma.org , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always see Starry Night as Van Gogh showing us his impression (you know, being an impressionist and all) of what the wind and stars actually look and feel like—-painting them for someone who needed to physically see the swirls of the wind and feel the glow of the stars. All to make us feel them much more keenly. It just FEELS like a clear June night, with the wind blowing, the starlight glowing in the sky, and a village not far away. Maybe a better example of his work that explains what I mean more clearly is his Sunflowers. The chromium yellow paint he used to paint them makes you actually feel heat radiating off the canvas, as if you’re standing in a real field of sunflowers—-or rather, tiny suns giving off heat—-on a bright summer day. Even before I read about the man, Van Gogh’s paintings always inspired such reactions from me, as well as a huge amount of emotion. My belief is that THAT was what he strived to achieve. I wish I could tell him that he succeeded. Far far beyond even his own expectations.

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The creation and rise of technology ushered in a new age in visual art. On a professional level, you have everyone from architecture to graphic and web design to film creation and animation to fashion design and the like all using technology to make art a tangible and practical reality. It’s amazing what a keyboard, a mouse, and drawing pad can achieve.

But then there’s technical innovation that has introduced completely new forms of art, like laser shows and digital performance art.

“The most popular forms of modern art these days are often created using technology—computers. Not only have they become easily accessible to the majority of people, but they also don’t require a spacious art studio, a variety of tools, and it’s just fast,” added Skaistė.

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#12

Picasso Believed That Art Is Done To Wash Away The Dust Of Our Daily Lives From Our Souls

A young woman is sitting with drawings on a carpet and relaxing

outlookafghanistan.net Report

#13

Romanticism Was A Cultural Movement That Originated In Europe And Also Gave Rise To The Importance Of Plein Air Painting

The hiker above the sea of fog by Caspar David Friedrich, 1817

britannica.com , artincontext.org Report

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Kea_Tortilla
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently, it was a direct reaction to the Industrial Revolution. The romantics were great lovers of nature and despised the growing industrialisation of cities such as London and Sheffield

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#14

'The Scream', The Most Well-Known Piece By Expressionist Artist Edvard Munch, Exists In Five Different Versions

The Scream by Edvard Munch, 1893

futurelearn.com , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Katie Lutesinger
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They figured out why the sky is red, too! Seems he painted it when there had been a major volcanic eruption a long way off, which made the sky look like that. Also I read that the guy in the foreground isn't actually screaming but covering his ears to blot out the sound of something else screaming.

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#15

Pablo Picasso Was A Prime Suspect In The Theft Of The Mona Lisa In 1911, But He Was Proven To Be Innocent After The Trials

The Mona Lisa on display in the Uffizi Gallery, in Florence (Italy). Museum director Giovanni Poggi (right) inspects the painting, 1913

artsy.net , Wikimedia Commons Report

She continued: “What’s happening now—AI (Artificial Intelligence) art—is an inevitability. Back in the day, when the digital art era was just kicking off, a lot about it was unknown to us. Some feared for the fate of those who chose traditional and classic forms of expression. In the end, nothing bad really happened. Some artists adapted—others stayed true to the classics.”

“It’s also important to consider the audience: each has its own taste and opinion. Some like digital works, while others disagree and look for more authentic, hand-made pieces of art. Art evolves just like humankind always has.”

“AI is what’s trending now, but it’s hard to speculate what the future holds at this point. Who knows, maybe analog will become the next big thing.”

#16

Salvador Dali Got The Idea For His Famous Melting Clocks From Watching Pieces Of Camembert Cheese Melt In The Sun

Salvador Dali with his pet ocelot, Babou, and cane by Roger Higgins, 1965

thedaliuniverse.com , Roger Higgins Report

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#17

Pablo Picasso Was An Animal Lover Who Had A Monkey, Goat, Owl, Turtle, Lots Of Cats And Dogs

Pablo Picasso with Bob, the family’s Pyrenean Mountain dog at Boisgeloup 1930 musée national Picasso, Paris

tate.org.uk Report

#18

One Of The Fathers Of The Impressionist Movement, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Had Suffered From Rheumatoid Arthritis

The Grands Boulevards by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1875

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Earl Grey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In his later years he would have an assistant tape a paintbrush up in his gnarled hand so that he could continue to be productive.

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#19

The 3500-Year-Old Kerala Murals Were Made Entirely Of Natural Paints And Vegetable Dyes, Leaving Them Completely Eco-Friendly

Pundareekapuram mural painting

esamskriti.com , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Nilsen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

>I'd have been impressed if they had syntethic paints at that time

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#20

Before Committing Suicide In 1890, Van Gogh Sold Only One Painting, 'The Red Vineyard'

Red Vineyards at Arles by Vincent van Gogh, 1888

theartnewspaper.com , Wikiart Report

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Nilsen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He sold a lot of paintings. He earned a living by selling paintings. Not his own paintings though, he worked in a shop selling paintings done by other people.

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Lastly, we’ve asked Skaistė about the challenges that modern professional artists face. She singled out competition as being among the biggest offenders. Sure, competition has always been a thing, but considering how much tech has made art accessible, this in turn empowered more players in the market.

But, on the other hand, there’s also a variety of ways to get your art out there—all you need to do is to use them.

#21

Like Maths, Creativity Can Be Learned

Three schoolgirls in classroom. One in orange sweater is standing and two is drawing.

psychologytoday.com Report

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not necessarily the creativity itself, but the understanding that it’s OK to let it loose TO BE creative. People, institutions, and society itself are guilty of suppressing a vast amount of talent, by making so many talented people feel embarrassed or paralyzingly insecure about letting their creativity flow and flourish. So don’t be an a*****e. Be careful of the words and tone of voice you use when a child shows you something they created (painted, wrote, composed, invented, etc). Same goes for the grades they worked hard to achieve in school. Realize and recognize the effort, not just the letter or GPA, ffs. Of course, that means you have to pay attention to your kids, to know how hard they worked to bring a grade up, no matter how far up they got it. Callous words and an insulting tone of voice can absolutely kill a child’s desire to explore, develop, and expand talents and intellect they possess.

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#22

Claude Monet Was Advised To Work As A Grocer Rather Than As An Artist

Portrait of French painter Claude Monet taken by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon known as "Nadar" in 1899

newworldencyclopedia.org , Nadar Report

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RoanTheMad
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet he painted one of my favourite paintings. His series of Water Lilies ... I just look at and feel a sense of calm. They're beautiful.

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#25

In 1961, 'Le Bateau' By Henri Matisse Was Hung Upside Down At The Museum Of Modern Art In New York, And It Was Around 46 Days Before Anyone Noticed

Henri Matisse photographed by Alvin Langdon Coburn, 1913

artnet.com , Alvin Langdon Coburn Report

Be sure to check out more from Skaistė on her Etsy store where you can buy her originals as well as prints. Or you can also follow her Instagram if you love seeing lovely things in your feed.

But there’s still more to see in this artsy fartsy list, so continue scrolling. And while you’re at it, leave a comment with a fun art fact that you wish more people knew about!

#26

Michelangelo And Leonardo Da Vinci Revolutionized The Way Human Bodies Were Portrayed In Paintings

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, 1492

metmuseum.org , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you look at paintings—-specifically those more like portraits of real people—-before and after Da Vinci, you’ll see the difference in proportion, as well as more, sometimes gritty, realism.

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#27

Even Though There Are Over 50 Casts Of Auguste Rodin's Well-Known Sculpture The Thinker All Across The World, Its Beginnings Were Far More Modest

A photo of The Thinker (1879–1889) by Rodin located at the Musée Rodin in Paris

"What makes my Thinker think is that he thinks not only with his brain, with his knitted brow, his distended nostrils, and his compressed lips, but with every muscle in his arms, back, and legs, with his clenched fist, and with his gripping toes", as the creator himself described what made his sculpture so difficult and predetermined to make.

nga.gov , AndrewHorne Report

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Edda Kamphues
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in two minds about Rodin. He claimed a lot of Camille Claudel's works as his own...

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#28

The First Pencil Was Invented In England In 1565

Black pencil sharpened above the white paper

bbc.co.uk/ , www.pexels.com Report

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was the first pencil sharpener that wasn’t a knife (which is an overly difficult and really s****y sharpener) invented in 1566?

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#29

The Seven Different Types Of Art Include Painting, Literature, Music, Architecture, Sculpture, Theater, And Cinema

The School of Athens (1509–1511). Fresco, 550 x 770 cm (18 x 25 ft). Raphael Rooms, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

contemporaryartissue.com Report

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sofacushionfort
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Industrial design, high couture, and cuisine can also be considered arts. “Martial arts,” “the Art of War” etc. may be a form of theater, but I’ll prefer not to attend

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#30

The Main Themes In Romanticism Art Were Human Psychology, Expression Of Personal Feeling And Nature

The Kiss by Francesco Hayez, 1859. Pinoteca de Brera, Milan

tate.org.uk , Wikimedia Commons Report

#31

Rococo Artwork Showed Wealthy People Engaging In Luxurious Leisure Activities And Romantic Adventures

A Young Girl Reading by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, 1769. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

arthistorywithalder.com , National Gallery of Art Report

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FunOldGuy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was looking at this painting in the National Gallery (Wash. DC) when an older man who was holding the hand of a woman about his age pushed his way as close to the painting as he could get. "That's her," he said to the woman. "The only girl I love as much as I love you."

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#32

Dali Believed He Was The Reincarnation Of His Older Brother Also Named Salvador Dali

Dali portrait photographed by Studio Harcourt in 1936

artsgain.com , Studio Harcourt Report

#33

Michelangelo Painted The Sistine Chapel’s Fresco Ceiling Entirely Standing Up, Including The Most Famous Wall, 'The Creation Of Adam'

The Creation of Adam (1508–1512), by Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel, Vatican

britannica.com , Wikimedia Commons Report

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His back must’ve been made of steel, because standing up while looking and reaching up to paint a ceiling would just totally f**k my back, neck, and painting arm up.

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#34

The Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold Is Leonardo Da Vinci 'Salvator Mundi': Sold For $450.3 Million

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci, approx. 1500

nytimes.com , Leonardo da Vinci Report

#35

Art Is A Tool For Developing Critical Thinking And Imagination

A young woman sitting on the floor, holding a notebook and red feather

nagc.org Report

#37

In 1911 After The Mona Lisa Was Stolen From The Louvre, More People Came To See The Empty Gap Left On The Wall Than Ever Before

Mona Lisa in Louvre, 2018

historytoday.com , Pedaalemmer Report

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#39

Willard Wigan, An Artist, Once Inhaled His Own Creation

Man in a sweater and apron is sculpting

swnsdigital.com Report

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Abigail Strong
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For any of you wondering how, he is a miniature artist, once creating a sculpture of the white house that could fit on the head of a pin. Look him up, he's really cool (edit) also he's hot

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#40

The Word “Art” Is Derived From The Latin Word “Ars,” Which Means “Art, Talent, Or Craft"

Brush touching brown color on painting palette

thoughtco.com Report

Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.