To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the invention of the Rubik’s Cube, we look at four toys and games spanning centuries and continents that offer different perspectives on how to have fun
To mark the anniversary of the birth of Salvador Dalí, who played all sorts of temporal tricks in his paintings, we look at four artworks that address the forward march of time
As Hindu communities around the world celebrate Holi, we look at four artworks that depict this vibrantly colourful festival
To mark the anniversary of Isadora Duncan’s first performance in Europe, we look at four artworks that immortalise the trailblazing dancer
In honour of the centenary of Eduardo Paolozzi’s birth, we look at four works that convey the dazzling variety of forms mosaics have taken throughout history
In tribute to Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the trailblazing African American who qualified as a doctor 160 years ago today, we look at four works that celebrate the women who have shaped medicine over the years
To mark Winslow Homer’s birthday, we look at four very different marine scenes from across the ages – including one by the Boston-born painter himself
From pancakes to parades, pre-Lent indulgences bring joy to countless communities around this time of year
Chinese New Year is nigh – but the zodiac’s most auspicious creature has a storied history of baring its fangs in many other cultures, too
As the time-honoured tradition taps into our desire for spring, we dig into four seasonal subjects
From a festive snapshot to a paper angel, we’ve picked four objects that make up the perfect Christmas day
From snapshots of Martin Luther King Jr. to a mural commemorating the Peterloo massacre, we look at four objects that speak of the long struggle for civil rights
The seedier side of city life has captured the imaginations of artists throughout the decades
The British monarch was no patron of the arts, but the political upheaval of her reign inspired many writers and artists
Artists of the period found inventive ways of responding to and confronting an atmosphere of fear and oppression
Photographers have long used their medium to document pressing social issues and overlooked communities
Andy Warhol might get all the glory but there are many other artists associated with the movement whose work has been overshadowed or forgotten
144 years after Thomas Edison’s light bulb changed the world forever, we take look at four illuminating works of art and objects
Emerging in France in the 1720s, this new style gave artists free rein to be as over the top as they liked
The end of summer might provoke sadness for some but the changing colours of the landscape have captivated artists for centuries
On the 188th anniversary of the HMS Beagle landing on the Galápagos Islands, we take a look at four artworks and objects that tell the story of evolution
From a giant billiard table to a three storey concrete house, we take a look at some of the most compelling public artworks in recent history
From Scipione Borghese to Peggy Guggenheim, collectors have long supported the careers of the world’s most influential artists
On the anniversary of Captain Cook’s first voyage to Australia, we consider the history of exploration through four objects including a map of sea monsters and a robot used for navigation
