Comment
The satirical world of contemporary art – from Banksy to broadcasting
Artists and auction houses alike contribute to the comic excesses of their world – but are they in on the joke?
The oldest drawing in the world has been discovered – but is it art?
A 73,000-year-old fragment of stone marked with red lines raises questions about the nature of aesthetic experience
Will Macron’s culture pass have much impact?
In a new pilot scheme, every 18 year old in France will get €500 to spend on culture next year
Is it time to call an end to biennials?
Biennials are a mainstay of the contemporary art world, but their purpose seems increasingly unclear
AI art is on the rise – but how do we measure its success?
Artworks produced using artificial intelligence have long confounded viewers
The Easter Island statues now scattered around the world
Some 20 of the famous stone statues can be found in leading museums – and now campaigners want them back
Does the system for protecting historic buildings in New York still work?
The controversy over the expansion of the Frick has been resolved, but questions surrounding the preservation of New York’s historic buildings remain
In search of the Venus de Milo – on Milos and in Paris
The statue has been in Paris for nearly two centuries, but does it belong back on the island of Milos?
‘No more pushing around of Mrs Pankhurst’
The site of Emmeline Pankhurst’s statue in Westminster was chosen by her fellow suffragists – there is no reason for it to change
Could the art-finance industry offer museums some much-needed options?
The industry is currently geared to private individuals, but perhaps museums should consider it, too
Martin Puryear may prove the ideal choice to represent the US at Venice
The sculptor has made quietly effective political work in the past. Will he do so again next year?
The true worth of Robert Burns’s manuscripts
New research methods will help distinguish Robert Burns’ texts from forgeries – but will it change how we read him?
Does the spirit of Charles Dickens live on in his furniture?
A table owned by the author has been export stopped in the UK – a situation that Dickens himself would have relished
The destruction of The List at the Liverpool Biennial is deeply troubling
The List, which documents the thousands of people who have died trying to reach Europe, was torn down from hoardings in Liverpool
The remarkable career of Artemisia Gentileschi
The National Gallery’s acquisition of a work by the painter is welcome – not least because baroque women artists were long neglected
‘Real Detroiters are tired of their city being a symbol’
How the city’s long-term residents are fostering a thriving arts scene
It’s vital that objects from national collections are shown more widely
Museums across the UK are able to borrow from the national collections, but they need external support to do so
Is the international art world too elitist?
The proliferation of biennials and art fairs has brought with it the rise of a jet-set elite. Do such events encourage meaningful engagement?
Will the new Istanbul Modern revitalise Turkey’s struggling art scene?
The new Renzo Piano-designed Istanbul Modern is set to open in 2021, but will it signal a return to health for the country’s art scene?
How the scientific study of paintings has become accessible to everyone
A revolution in chemical-imaging techniques is bringing us closer to the original visions of artists such as Van Gogh
‘Mounting an exhibition about Leonardo da Vinci is an act of hubris’
In the run-up to the 500th anniversary of the artist’s birth, getting other museums to lend you their Leonardo is no mean feat
‘The building as it was is gone for good’ – remembering the Glasgow School of Art
The devastating fire at the Glasgow School of Art means that incredibly difficult decisions lie ahead
The murky mystery of Caravaggio’s stolen Palermo Nativity
While recent reports suggest Caravaggio’s stolen Nativity may be intact in Switzerland, it’s worth treading carefully
Are the principles set out for identifying Nazi-looted art fit for purpose?
On the 20th anniversary of the Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, their effectiveness is up for debate