National Gallery of Art

Do you want to take the road less traveled? Do you want to get the most out of your next visit? #Swipe to read the art museum guide you never knew you needed. ➡️

At one with Rothko 🙏🏽 Did you know that we have the world’s largest public collection of Mark Rothko paintings?     And now, we’re taking it a step further. Today, we’re unveiling a new exhibition bringing 100 new Rothko paintings to our East Building. These never-before-seen paintings were made by the artist on paper, and they shed new light on his creative evolution.    Don’t miss your chance to see “Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper.”    Tap the link in our bio to plan your visit 🔍 __ 🖼 Mark Rothko, “Untitled,” 1956, pigmented hide glue, oil, and acrylic on canvas, 95 x 81 in., Gift of The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc. 📍 East Building, Tower, Gallery 615A

Find someone who loves you as much as Johannes Vermeer’s fans love his work. Vermeer’s paintings are exceptional and so are their admirers. Some fans of the 17th-century Dutch painter board 8-hour flights across continents to see his work up close. Others dedicate their careers to learning the artist’s technique, and they recreate his work to connect with new generations of art lovers. And just who are these fierce fans? Tap the link in our bio to meet them and read about their remarkable journeys. 👈🏽🔍 🖼 Johannes Vermeer, “Woman Holding a Balance,” 1664, oil on canvas, 15 x 14 in., Widener Collection; 📷 by Caroline Sikkenk @caroline_sikkenk; Ft. @theabigailmartina

You might not be familiar with these early works by Edward Hopper. 👀 While many recognize him for his famous melancholy oil paintings, which capture themes of loneliness and isolation, his early etchings offer a special insight into the start of his career. In these foundational prints, Hopper establishes the themes that would become central in his extensive body of work: individuals left in solitude with their thoughts, the stark contrast of light and shadow, and the graceful play of sunlight on buildings. ✍️✨ . . . . 🖼 Edward Hopper, “Evening Wind,” 1921, etching in black, 7 x 8 1/4 in., Rosenwald Collection 🖼 Edward Hopper, “Night in the Park,” 1921, etching in black, 6 x 8 in., Rosenwald Collection 🖼 Edward Hopper, “East Side Interior,” 1922, etching in black, 7 × 8 in., Rosenwald Collection 🖼 Edward Hopper, “The Cat Boat,” 1922, etching in black, 7 x 9 in., Rosenwald Collection #hopper

In the 1920s, several Black artists in Washington DC created work so prolific, it started a Renaissance. So why isn’t their work more well known?   ⭐️ Featuring National Gallery Curatorial Assistant Rashieda Witter (@_rashieda) 🎞 Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Smithsonian Institution   📷Final Image: Beverly Price, A Great Day in Chocolate City, 2024. Photographer assistant and editor: Phylicia Ghee. Lead lighting technician: Thomas “BJ” Williams-EL. Lighting technician: Diante Jenkins. Location: Chela Mitchell Gallery. Organized by Rashieda Witter. #history #dc #art #explorepage

Dreaming of Paris ☀️ This sunny view of Paris was painted by Auguste Renoir in 1872. And it represents a pivotal moment in art history.   In the 19th century, a daring group of artists decided they were finished with the traditional rules of the art world. They called themselves impressionists. One of these bold innovators was Auguste Renoir. When he set out to paint the Pont Neuf, Paris’s oldest bridge, he secured the upper floor of a café overlooking the Seine to get the most dynamic view possible. To capture the ever-changing scene, Renoir asked his brother, Edmond, to head over to the bridge, chat with people, and slow them down just enough for Renoir to paint them. This inventive technique (freezing fleeting moments) made Renoir a standout in the art world. __   🖼 Auguste Renoir, 1872, “Pont Neuf, Paris,” oil on canvas, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection 🎥 Animation designed by @andrey.zakirzyanov (No, this is not AI ❤️) 📍 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 89 #art #animation #paris #explorepage

From a museum to hand-painted Olympic uniforms, Edouard Duval-Carrié’s art moves beyond gallery walls. 🖼️ Edouard Duval-Carrié, "Toussaint Louverture," 2006, © Edouard Duval-Carrié 2006, courtesy of Figge Art Museum @edouardduvalcarrie 🖼️ Edouard Duval-Carrie, "L’Aesthete Hindu (The Hindu Aesthete)," 1990, oil on canvas, 27 1/2 × 27 1/2 in., Gift of Kay and Roderick Heller #art #Olympics #fashion #explorepage

Before Archibald John Motley Jr. became well known for his vibrant paintings of the Jazz Age and Black life in Chicago, he painted the raw essence of the people he loved. 🖼 Archibald John Motley Jr., “Portrait of My Grandmother,” 1922, oil on canvas, 38 × 23 in., Patrons' Permanent Fund, Avalon Fund, and Motley Fund 📍 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 66 #art #history #explorepage

How did one of the world’s rare Leonardo paintings come to the US? On a secret mission straight out of a James Bond movie. Now you can see it in person in our West Building 🫱 __ 🖼 Leonardo da Vinci, “Ginevra de’ Benci [obverse],” 1474/1478, oil on panel, 15 x 14 in., Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund 📍 National Gallery, DC, West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 06 #art #history #explorepage

Imagine you’re walking alone through a quiet art gallery when a stranger suddenly catches your eye… #Swipe for the full story ➡️ . . . . 📍 Rothko Room, Our East Building Tower, Gallery 615A #art #love #missedconnections #explorepage

Adding a few pops of color to your snow day. Hello from our winter wonderland. 👋 We’re closed today through Tuesday (Jan 25–27) because the weather and road closures won. Make an art–inspired snowman this week and it will be reposted. 🔵 Katharina Fritsch, “Hahn / Cock,” 2013, glass fiber reinforced polyester resin fixed on stainless steel supporting structure, 173 × 173 × 59 in., Gift of Glenstone Museum 🔴 Alexander Calder, “Cheval rouge,” 1974, © 2026 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York 🟡 Marc Chagall, “Orphée,” 1969, stone and glass mosaic, 119 x 203 in., The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection 📍 Our Sculpture Garden #sculpture #snow #explorepage

Toma un tour por la historia del arte, desde lo antiguo hasta lo contemporáneo. Cuéntanos qué período es el que más te emociona ⬇️ __ A quick tour through art history, from ancient to contemporary. Which period spoke to you most? Drop it in the comments ⬇️ ⭐️ Chris Abanavas, Public Relations Specialist 🖼️ Ancient Egypt & Florentine 16th Century, “Urn with Grotesque Masks” 🖼️ Giovanni Baronzio, “The Birth, Naming, and Circumcision of Saint John the Baptist,” 1335 🖼️ Giovanni Bellini and Titian, “The Feast of the Gods,” 1514/1529 🖼️ Valentin de Boulogne, “Soldiers Playing Cards and Dice (The Cheats),” 1618/1620 🖼️ Jean Honoré Fragonard, “Diana and Endymion,” 1753/1756 🖼️ Jacques-Louis David, “The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries,” 1812 🖼️ Thomas Cole, “The Voyage of Life: Youth,” 1842 🖼️ Edouard Manet, “The Old Musician,” 1862 🖼️ Claude Monet, “Woman with a Parasol,” 1875 🖼️ Vincent van Gogh, “Roses,” 1890 🖼️ Jacob Lawrence, “Street to Mbari,” 1964 🖼️ Emmi Whitehorse, “Fog Bank,” 2020 #art #arte #explorepage