Miniseries - The Rest Is History

Technology: The Great Depression, Inventing the Flash, and the Polaroid Puzzle | History in Photos

How did Leica change the nature of war photography, and what is the story behind Robert Capa’s Last Man to Die? Does the invention of colour photography affect our collective memory of history? And, why is the invention of Polaroids considered one of the greatest accomplishments of engineering? In this last episode of our member’s-only mini-series, Dominic and photographer Chris Floyd discuss the stories behind photography’s most vital technological inventions.

Fashion: World War II, Weimar Republic’s Dadaism, and Bobby Kennedy’s Death | History in Photos

How have fashion ads changed thanks to photography? How did Erwin Blumenfeld’s refugee identity influence his work? What makes Horst P. Horst’s Mainbocher Corset one of the most iconic fashion images of all time? And, what dark, mysterious photo influenced Glen Luchford’s Prada 1997 autumn/winter campaign? In today’s episode of our new member’s-only mini-series, Dominic is joined by photographer Chris Floyd to discuss famous photographs of iconic and genre-defining fashion images.

Music: The Father of the Blues, Golden Age of Jazz, and David Bowie | History in Photos

Why are there only three confirmed photographs of Blues-legend Robert Johnson? How did Art Kane’s photo of 1950’s NYC Jazz musicians Great Day In Harlem serve as a symbol of American segregation? And, what is the connection between David Bowie’s face paint on the Aladdin Sane album cover, Elvis Presley, and the Templar Christian Brotherhood? In today’s episode of our new member’s-only mini-series, Dominic is joined by photographer Chris Floyd to discuss iconic photographs of the most famous and influential 20th century musicians.

Revolutions: Iran, the Prague Spring, and Ceaușescu’s Fall | History in Photos

In what ways did Abbas’ identity grant him unique access to the Iranian Revolution? How can a single object, like Josef Koudelka’s wristwatch, symbolise an entire geopolitical shift like the Prague Spring? And, how does Moises Saman’s photographic approach to the Arab Spring differ from traditional revolutionary photography? In today’s episode of our new member’s-only mini-series, Dominic is joined by photographer Chris Floyd to discuss iconic photographs of political revolutions of the 20th and 21st century.

Greatest Paintings: Dawn of the Dutch Golden Age - The Arnolfini Portrait (Ep. 1)

Why is Jan Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait perceived as one of the greatest mysteries of the arts? What elements and symbolisms provoke debates about its identity and meaning? And, what do we know about its provenance, its travels through European royal courts, and its influence on Diego Velázquez? In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.

Greatest Paintings: Spain’s Imperial Ghost – Velázquez’s Las Meninas (Ep. 2)

Why does Diego Velázquez’ Las Meninas represent the fading Spanish Golden Age? How did he challenge the boundaries between viewer and artwork? And, in what ways does his defining style foreshadow Impressionism and serve as an indirect image of his own genius?In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.

Greatest Paintings: Age of Enlightenment - Raeburn's Skating Minister (Ep. 3)

How does Henry Raeburn’s Skating Minister represent both the Scottish Enlightenment and the Romantic movement? In what ways does subject Reverend Robert Walker’s personal history connect to the famous Dutch Golden Age? And, how did a controversy about the most reproduced image in Scotland traumatise the Scottish national identity?

Greatest Paintings: The French Revolution - Millet's Angelus (Ep.4)

Why was Jean-François Millet’s The Angelus considered highly controversial and politically divisive in pre-industrial 19th-century France? What do we know about his personal background, his ambiguous relationship with his subjects, and the scene of the famous Barbizon School? And, how did artists like Salvador Dalí and Vincent Van Gogh draw inspiration and reinterpret the painting?