H.B. Cavalcanti
@hbcf.bsky.social
Professor emeritus, writer, art lover
“The thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it.” Bayazid Bistami
(photo: “Bayazid Bistami and Disciples,” second half 19th century, Persia, Qajar; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_...)
(photo: “Bayazid Bistami and Disciples,” second half 19th century, Persia, Qajar; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_...)
February 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM
“The thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it.” Bayazid Bistami
(photo: “Bayazid Bistami and Disciples,” second half 19th century, Persia, Qajar; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_...)
(photo: “Bayazid Bistami and Disciples,” second half 19th century, Persia, Qajar; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_...)
This life-sized bronze sculpture, featuring an elderly Plains Indian warrior, won the James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award at the 2011 Prix de West…
(photo: Blair Buswell, “How Many More,” 2011, in the Briscoe Western Art Museum collection, my photo)
(photo: Blair Buswell, “How Many More,” 2011, in the Briscoe Western Art Museum collection, my photo)
February 9, 2026 at 3:10 PM
This life-sized bronze sculpture, featuring an elderly Plains Indian warrior, won the James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award at the 2011 Prix de West…
(photo: Blair Buswell, “How Many More,” 2011, in the Briscoe Western Art Museum collection, my photo)
(photo: Blair Buswell, “How Many More,” 2011, in the Briscoe Western Art Museum collection, my photo)
Hurvin Anderson’s works meander between the UK and the Caribbean, reflecting his experiences of belonging and diaspora…
(photo: Hurvin Anderson, “Grace Jones,” 2020, acrylic, oil on linen; fadmagazine.com/2025/12/03/t...)
(photo: Hurvin Anderson, “Grace Jones,” 2020, acrylic, oil on linen; fadmagazine.com/2025/12/03/t...)
February 8, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Hurvin Anderson’s works meander between the UK and the Caribbean, reflecting his experiences of belonging and diaspora…
(photo: Hurvin Anderson, “Grace Jones,” 2020, acrylic, oil on linen; fadmagazine.com/2025/12/03/t...)
(photo: Hurvin Anderson, “Grace Jones,” 2020, acrylic, oil on linen; fadmagazine.com/2025/12/03/t...)
Manescau is widely known for the beauty of his Venetian vedutas, for his accurate depiction of architectural detail and mastery of color…
(photo: Antonio Reyna Manescau, “Canal in Venice,” ca. 1915, oil on canvas, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection; collections.mfa.org/objects/31515)
(photo: Antonio Reyna Manescau, “Canal in Venice,” ca. 1915, oil on canvas, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection; collections.mfa.org/objects/31515)
February 7, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Manescau is widely known for the beauty of his Venetian vedutas, for his accurate depiction of architectural detail and mastery of color…
(photo: Antonio Reyna Manescau, “Canal in Venice,” ca. 1915, oil on canvas, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection; collections.mfa.org/objects/31515)
(photo: Antonio Reyna Manescau, “Canal in Venice,” ca. 1915, oil on canvas, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection; collections.mfa.org/objects/31515)
This print is part of Cattlet’s Black Woman series (15 woodprints), created in Mexico to rally against the hardships face by African American women…
(Photo: Elizabeth Cattlet, “Sharecropper,” 1952, linoleum cut, in the collection of Samella Lewis; narmassociation.org/the-art-of-e...)
(Photo: Elizabeth Cattlet, “Sharecropper,” 1952, linoleum cut, in the collection of Samella Lewis; narmassociation.org/the-art-of-e...)
February 6, 2026 at 2:19 PM
This print is part of Cattlet’s Black Woman series (15 woodprints), created in Mexico to rally against the hardships face by African American women…
(Photo: Elizabeth Cattlet, “Sharecropper,” 1952, linoleum cut, in the collection of Samella Lewis; narmassociation.org/the-art-of-e...)
(Photo: Elizabeth Cattlet, “Sharecropper,” 1952, linoleum cut, in the collection of Samella Lewis; narmassociation.org/the-art-of-e...)
Le Sidaner was an intimist painter, known for his paintings of quiet street scenes, blending aspects of impressionism and pointillism…
(photo: Henri le Sidaner, “The House of Gerberoy, Evening,” ca. 1930, in the Carnegie Museum of Art collection; collection.carnegieart.org/objects/282f...)
(photo: Henri le Sidaner, “The House of Gerberoy, Evening,” ca. 1930, in the Carnegie Museum of Art collection; collection.carnegieart.org/objects/282f...)
February 5, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Le Sidaner was an intimist painter, known for his paintings of quiet street scenes, blending aspects of impressionism and pointillism…
(photo: Henri le Sidaner, “The House of Gerberoy, Evening,” ca. 1930, in the Carnegie Museum of Art collection; collection.carnegieart.org/objects/282f...)
(photo: Henri le Sidaner, “The House of Gerberoy, Evening,” ca. 1930, in the Carnegie Museum of Art collection; collection.carnegieart.org/objects/282f...)
Probably one of my favorite exhibitions last year…
(photo: Anni Albers, “Smyrna Knotted Rug,” 1925, in “Anni Albers: In Thread and On Paper,” Feb 11 – Jun 30, 2024 at the Blanton Museum of Art; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/a...)
(photo: Anni Albers, “Smyrna Knotted Rug,” 1925, in “Anni Albers: In Thread and On Paper,” Feb 11 – Jun 30, 2024 at the Blanton Museum of Art; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/a...)
February 4, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Probably one of my favorite exhibitions last year…
(photo: Anni Albers, “Smyrna Knotted Rug,” 1925, in “Anni Albers: In Thread and On Paper,” Feb 11 – Jun 30, 2024 at the Blanton Museum of Art; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/a...)
(photo: Anni Albers, “Smyrna Knotted Rug,” 1925, in “Anni Albers: In Thread and On Paper,” Feb 11 – Jun 30, 2024 at the Blanton Museum of Art; blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/a...)
This painting belonged to the Corcoran Gallery until it closed in 2014. Most of its collection was transferred to Washington, DC’s National Gallery…
(photo: Mary Cassatt, “Young Girl at a Window,” ca. 1883-84, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery collection; www.nga.gov/artworks/976...)
(photo: Mary Cassatt, “Young Girl at a Window,” ca. 1883-84, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery collection; www.nga.gov/artworks/976...)
February 3, 2026 at 2:51 PM
This painting belonged to the Corcoran Gallery until it closed in 2014. Most of its collection was transferred to Washington, DC’s National Gallery…
(photo: Mary Cassatt, “Young Girl at a Window,” ca. 1883-84, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery collection; www.nga.gov/artworks/976...)
(photo: Mary Cassatt, “Young Girl at a Window,” ca. 1883-84, oil on canvas, in the National Gallery collection; www.nga.gov/artworks/976...)
Starting Black History Month with a favorite painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner. “The Banjo Lesson” was his first entry into the Paris Salon…
(photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ban...)
(photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ban...)
February 2, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Starting Black History Month with a favorite painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner. “The Banjo Lesson” was his first entry into the Paris Salon…
(photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ban...)
(photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ban...)
Afternoon visit to the Latin American gallery of San Antonio Museum of Art…
(photo: Roberto Montenegro, Mexican, “People from Tehuantepec,” 1932, oil on canvas)
(photo: Roberto Montenegro, Mexican, “People from Tehuantepec,” 1932, oil on canvas)
February 1, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Afternoon visit to the Latin American gallery of San Antonio Museum of Art…
(photo: Roberto Montenegro, Mexican, “People from Tehuantepec,” 1932, oil on canvas)
(photo: Roberto Montenegro, Mexican, “People from Tehuantepec,” 1932, oil on canvas)
“It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning.” Vincent van Gogh, letter to Theo van Gogh, early January 1874…
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Two Poplars in the Alpilles near Saint-Rémy,” 1889, oil on canvas,
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vi...)
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Two Poplars in the Alpilles near Saint-Rémy,” 1889, oil on canvas,
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vi...)
February 1, 2026 at 3:11 PM
“It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning.” Vincent van Gogh, letter to Theo van Gogh, early January 1874…
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Two Poplars in the Alpilles near Saint-Rémy,” 1889, oil on canvas,
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vi...)
(photo: Vincent van Gogh, “Two Poplars in the Alpilles near Saint-Rémy,” 1889, oil on canvas,
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vi...)
Boudin was one of the first French landscape painters to paint outdoors. A son of a ship’s captain, he favored seascapes…
(photo: Eugène Boudin, “The Harbor of Trouville,” 1895, oil on canvas, in the Baltimore Museum of Art collection; collection.artbma.org/objects/3745...)
(photo: Eugène Boudin, “The Harbor of Trouville,” 1895, oil on canvas, in the Baltimore Museum of Art collection; collection.artbma.org/objects/3745...)
January 31, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Boudin was one of the first French landscape painters to paint outdoors. A son of a ship’s captain, he favored seascapes…
(photo: Eugène Boudin, “The Harbor of Trouville,” 1895, oil on canvas, in the Baltimore Museum of Art collection; collection.artbma.org/objects/3745...)
(photo: Eugène Boudin, “The Harbor of Trouville,” 1895, oil on canvas, in the Baltimore Museum of Art collection; collection.artbma.org/objects/3745...)
Awarded the grand prize at the 1878 Exposition Universelle, this was one of Tiffany & Co.’s most celebrated Japoniste designs…
(photo: Edward C. Moore, “Pitcher,” 1878, Tiffany and Company, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection; www.facebook.com/groups/14472...)
(photo: Edward C. Moore, “Pitcher,” 1878, Tiffany and Company, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection; www.facebook.com/groups/14472...)
January 30, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Awarded the grand prize at the 1878 Exposition Universelle, this was one of Tiffany & Co.’s most celebrated Japoniste designs…
(photo: Edward C. Moore, “Pitcher,” 1878, Tiffany and Company, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection; www.facebook.com/groups/14472...)
(photo: Edward C. Moore, “Pitcher,” 1878, Tiffany and Company, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection; www.facebook.com/groups/14472...)
Nguyễn Phan Chánh was a graduate of the first class to attend the Fine Arts School of Indochina, which opened in 1925…
(photo: Nguyễn Phan Chánh, “Young Woman Combing Her Hair,” 1933, ink and pigments on silk, in the Musée Cernuschi collection; www.cernuschi.paris.fr/en/https%3A/...)
(photo: Nguyễn Phan Chánh, “Young Woman Combing Her Hair,” 1933, ink and pigments on silk, in the Musée Cernuschi collection; www.cernuschi.paris.fr/en/https%3A/...)
January 29, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Nguyễn Phan Chánh was a graduate of the first class to attend the Fine Arts School of Indochina, which opened in 1925…
(photo: Nguyễn Phan Chánh, “Young Woman Combing Her Hair,” 1933, ink and pigments on silk, in the Musée Cernuschi collection; www.cernuschi.paris.fr/en/https%3A/...)
(photo: Nguyễn Phan Chánh, “Young Woman Combing Her Hair,” 1933, ink and pigments on silk, in the Musée Cernuschi collection; www.cernuschi.paris.fr/en/https%3A/...)
No one etched rain quite as skillfully as Kawase Hasui. His rainy landscapes are exquisite…
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
January 28, 2026 at 1:51 PM
No one etched rain quite as skillfully as Kawase Hasui. His rainy landscapes are exquisite…
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
(photo: Kawase Hasui, “Night Rain at Kawarago,” 1947, woodblock print, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco collection; searchcollection.asianart.org/objects/1917...)
Maxence specialized in medieval and mythical subjects that brought him recognition as a French symbolist painter…
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
January 27, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Maxence specialized in medieval and mythical subjects that brought him recognition as a French symbolist painter…
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
(photo: Edgard Maxence, “Woman with an Orchid,” 1900, oil on canvas, in the Musée d’Orsay collection; www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/f...)
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
January 26, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “An Evening on the Loire,” 1923, oil on canvas, in private collection;
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
In 1918 a German painter immigrated to Santa Fe, and spent the rest of his life documenting the beauty of the Southwest…
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
January 25, 2026 at 4:07 PM
In 1918 a German painter immigrated to Santa Fe, and spent the rest of his life documenting the beauty of the Southwest…
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
(photo: Gustave Baumann, “Aspen Thicket,” 1943 color woodcut, New Mexico Museum of Art collection;
www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/se...)
Chase worked in all media. He was most fluent in oil painting and pastel, but also created watercolor paintings and etchings…
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
January 24, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Chase worked in all media. He was most fluent in oil painting and pastel, but also created watercolor paintings and etchings…
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
(photo: William Merritt Chase, “Portrait of Dora Wheeler,” 1882-83, oil on canvas, in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...)
The Moche culture artists were remarkable for their sculptural naturalism. The culture flourished on the north coast of Peru between 100 BCE and 500 CE…
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
January 23, 2026 at 2:16 PM
The Moche culture artists were remarkable for their sculptural naturalism. The culture flourished on the north coast of Peru between 100 BCE and 500 CE…
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
(photo: Unknown Artist, “Portrait Vessel,” 600-700 CE, Moche Culture, Peru, in the Art Institute of Chicago collection)
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
January 22, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Félix Valloton’s landscapes avoided conventional views and techniques, presenting unusual perspectives…
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
(photo: Félix Valloton, “Boulogne Florest,” 1919, oil on canvas; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%...)
This work offers a glimpse of the estrados – the private drawing rooms for elite women in Spain and Spanish Americas...
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
January 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM
This work offers a glimpse of the estrados – the private drawing rooms for elite women in Spain and Spanish Americas...
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
(photo: Rogelio de Egusquiza y Barrena, “Reclining Woman with Mirror,” 1873, in the Hispanic Society Museum & Library collection; hispanicsociety.org/blocks/#&gid...)
An exhibition of rare Homer’s watercolors at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston closed this week…
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
January 20, 2026 at 2:05 PM
An exhibition of rare Homer’s watercolors at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston closed this week…
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
(photo: Winslow Homer, “Palm Trees, Florida,” 1904, watercolor and graphite on paper, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection; www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...)
Somalia-born, Kenya-raised, and NY-based Uman is exhibiting her work at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Here is one of her creations…
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
January 19, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Somalia-born, Kenya-raised, and NY-based Uman is exhibiting her work at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Here is one of her creations…
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
(photo: Uman, “Sumac Tree in Roseboom,” 2022-23, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas; www.nicolavassell.com/exhibitions/...)
This work is in the “Korean Treasures” exhibition at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC…
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
January 18, 2026 at 1:51 PM
This work is in the “Korean Treasures” exhibition at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC…
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)
(photo: Park Saengkwang, “Shamanism 3,” 1980, ink and color on paper, in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collection; www.homeanddesign.com/event/korean...)