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Praxiteles' Aphrodite of Knidos is the first life-sized statue of a naked goddess. The sculpture depicts Aphrodite emerging from her bath. Through sensuality and naturalism, the sculpture became a symbol of ideal beauty, inspiring Western art for centuries. -
The Madonna of the Magnificat is a circular painting from the Early Renaissance. It depicts the Virgin Mary being crowned by angels while Christ's child sits on her lap. -
The Book of the Courtier is a guide to Renaissance etiquette, art, politics, and love, showcasing the shift from medieval knightly ideals to refined humanistic conduct, and it became hugely influential across Europe. -
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture. -
The Milkmaid is a famous Dutch Golden Age painting that depicts a domestic servant pouring milk. Vermeer's masterful use of light and rich texture represents purity and everyday beauty in the 17th-century -
Essay on Man is a philosophical poem that explores humanity's place in the natural order and aims to "vindicate the ways of God to man." -
The Songs of Experience is a collection of poems that explore the darker, corrupt side of humanity. These works use childlike language to critique societal ills, oppressive institutions like the Church, and the loss of spiritual purity to reveal life's dualities. -
Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2, is one of Chopin's most famous and beloved piano pieces. Known for its gorgeous, lyrical melody, it was dedicated to Madame Marie Pleyel. -
Ophelia is a painting that depicts model Elizabeth Siddal, who famously fell ill posing in a cold bath. The painting highlights themes of madness, nature, and female suffering. -
La Sagrada Familia is a massive, iconic Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona, Spain, known for its stunning Art Nouveau/Modernist design. Construction began in 1882, and Gaudí took over in 1883. Construction is surprisingly still going on today and is expected to be completed in 2026. -
The Picture of Dorian Gray is Wilde's only novel. It is a Gothic and philosophical tale about a beautiful young man who trades his soul for eternal youth, while a portrait of him ages and reveals his hidden sins and moral decay. -
The Kiss is a painting that depicts a couple locked in a golden, ornate embrace, symbolizing love, passion, and transcendence. -
To the Lighthouse is a modernist novel about a family's visit to the Isle of Skye, exploring time, memory, loss, and perception through shifting perspectives. -
Beauty and the Beast is a fantasy film known for its practical effects, dreamlike atmosphere, and exploration of desire, enchantment, and hidden inner beauty. -
"Phenomenal Woman" is an iconic poem celebrating inner beauty, confidence, and self-love. -
The Breakfast Club is an iconic teen film that follows five high school students stuck in Saturday detention together, where they bond and realize they're more alike than different, becoming an infamous story about teenage stereotypes and identity.